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Another great book reviews and give away ya’ll. Today I’m sharing about Amanda Wen’s latest book called The Songs That Could Have Been. It is a great read and I hope you enjoy it. Also, disclaimer, I was sent a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.
After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love, and the man who broke her heart threaten to throw her well-balanced world out of control.
Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past.
Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around?
When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim–a name her family has never heard before—a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light.
As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives—and Rosie’s—forever.
Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.
The Songs That Could Have Been is full of the same deftly handled, resonant writing that readers and critics alike enjoyed in Amanda Wen’s first book in the series, Roots of Wood and Stone.
Fans of Lisa Wingate and Rachel Hauck will add Amanda Wen to their must-read shelves.
Click here to read an excerpt.
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My Personal Thoughts On The Book
This is a dual timeline book, which is always fun and keeps things lively. This book follows the leading lady Lauren’s life and also her Grandmother’s, who is in a nursing home battling memory loss.
The storyline for the grandmother is that she is trying to remember someone from her past but can’t quite figure it out except his name at first. She grew up in 1950 in the midwest and it seems she was involved in a bit of a forbidden romance with a man of whom her family would not approve.
The author does a great and graceful job telling Grandma Rosie’s story and I loved reading every minute of it. If I had to pick that storyline was my favorite out of the two, but Lauren’s story is a good one as well.
With Lauren and Carter’s story, I found it interesting as she is a food blogger, lol yep I can relate to her right away, and photographer trying to live out her life better than when she was younger and had some struggles with her relationship with Carter and her eating issues.
The book follows them dealing, or trying to deal, with those hurts of their past relationship that failed all those years ago and it was some ups and downs in the story for me, so I never knew what to expect. Did they get back together, or did they part ways at the end? Well, I can’t tell you everything or you wouldn’t need to read the book, lol!
I found that the author’s theme of God’s grace and redemption is one I really enjoyed and I look forward to more of her work. The book is full of great characters that are developed well and you can’t help but like them all. No doubt you’ll be like me and want to read it till the end to find out how their stories end.
About The Author, Amanda Wen
Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests.
She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist.
Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature.
She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been.
In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well.
A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wallets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.
To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follow her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).
I am a southern girl through and through that loves to laugh, cook, read and spend time with family. My passions outside of home schooling my son are ministering to those in need and creating art in the kitchen! Every day is an adventure in our little house and I wouldn’t trade it or the chance to share here with you for anything!
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