Softly and Tenderly

About the Book:  Happily married and owner of two successful boutiques, Jade longs to begin a family with her husband, Max. But when she discovers that Max has an illegitimate son—who he wants her to help raise—Jade’s life is turned upside down.  Using the excuse of taking her dying mother home, she flees to her childhood home, a rambling Iowa farmhouse, with enough room to breathe. There—while her mother’s health grows fragile, and the tug of her first love grows stronger—Jade begins to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and motherhood. In the wide-open landscape, Jade begins to see a future that doesn’t rest on the power of her past but in the goodness of God's tender mercies.

Trailer for Softly and Tenderly can be viewed here.

About the Authors:  Who could have known that one of my favorite country stars, Sara Evans, had an author hidden deep inside.  Softly and Tenderly was amazing and I can’t wait to get my hands on books one and three.   According to one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber, “Rachel Hauck's stories are filled with twists and turns that leave the reader breathless and longing for more.  She is a fresh fiction voice that will stir hearts for God. “  I personally loved that she “wrote her first story about a girl and her pony when she was ten. It was handwritten in a spiral notebook.” “ Her second story was about a girl who wanted to move away and live in New York City. She was twelve and no one had ever heard of “chick lit.”  Want to know more about them then check out their websites.  Sara can be found here and Rachel can be found here.  Both of them are amazing women. 

My Thoughts:  I am not a big fan of starting a series in the middle of the series….but having missed “In the Sweet By and By” and jumping ahead to “Softly and Tenderly” I had no trouble catching up and becoming a part of the character’s lives.  I loved this book!  I felt as if the characters were personal friends of mine….or perhaps lived next door.  I cried with and for Jade as she struggled to come to terms with God and life as it was dealt to her. 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book in ebook format from Thomas Nelson Publishing Company  in exchange for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.