Volg mijn lied

Heart of the Prairie #8

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bestselling Author Kim Vogel Sawyer Delivers Heartwarming Historical Romance

Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

Thad McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Historical, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Christian Romance

352 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in the library. The little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Kim's titles now exceed 1.5 million copies and are available in six different languages. A former elementary school teacher, she now enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Kim's passion lies in writing stories that point the reader to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. When Kim isn't writing, you'll find her traveling with her retired military hubby, spoiling her granddarlings, petting the cats, quilting, or--as time allows--participating in community theater. You can learn more about Kim's writing and speaking ministries at her website, KimVogelSawyer.com.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

1895 in Kansas: Die 22-jährige Sadie Wagner nimmt weit von ihrer Familie entfernt eine Stelle als Verkäuferin an. Sie möchte ihre Eltern und Geschwister finanziell unterstützen, da der Vater nach einem schweren Unfall bettlägerig ist und nicht mehr für die Familie sorgen kann.
Sadie ist eine leidenschaftliche Sängerin und hat in Goldtree/Kansas auch die Möglichkeit, ihr Talent unter Beweis zu stellen.
Thad McKane ist ebenfalls neu in Goldtree und wird vom Bürgermeister der Stadt zum neuen Sheriff ernannt. Er hat auch gleich einen ersten Auftrag, denn scheinbar wird in der Stadt illegal mit Alkohol gehandelt.
Sadie und Thad fühlen sich zueinander hingezogen, doch da ist auch noch Sadies Cousin Sid, der ebenfalls ein Auge auf seine hübsche Cousine geworfen hat.

Mein Leseeindruck:
Die Geschichte lässt sich sehr leicht und flüssig lesen, lässt allerdings Spannung vermissen. Ich wurde nicht wirklich mitgerissen und konnte das Buch ohne Probleme auch mal mittendrin zur Seite legen.
Dennoch hat mich die Geschichte recht gut unterhalten, auch wenn sie schon sehr vorhersehbar war. Aber die Liebesgeschichte war doch sehr rührend, auch wenn Sadie mir manchmal ein wenig zu naiv erschien.
Wem christliche Aspekte in einem Buch wichtig sind, wird hier sicher auf seine Kosten kommen, denn es wird immer mal wieder aus der Bibel zitiert und über Gott sinniert.
Im Großen und Ganzen ein netter Roman, den ich zwischendurch sehr gerne gelesen habe.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical romance!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3 stars
Age Suggestion: 12+

-the plot-
The plot of this book is actually quite unique for a Christian romance novel. It's not all about the romance...there's other conflict going on that makes for an interesting and gripping story. There were some holes, though, and I wasn't always clear on character motivations for certain things that they did.

-the characters-
Sadie and Thad were both pretty cliche. They were likeable, of course, and both had a faith that was inspiring to read about, but overall they're pretty standard Christian fiction protagonists.

Sid did add some interest to the story, despite how absolutely FRUSTRATING I found him (tip for the guys out there? If a girl tells you outright that she doesn't love you, you LEAVE HER ALONE. You don't try to win her love, for goodness sake! You'll just make her incredibly uncomfortable!) *ahem* rant over. And just to be clear, Sid's actions weren't portrayed as a good thing in the book. So this isn't a complaint about the book so much as just...yelling at the character. But I guess that means Sawyer did a good job?

I think the best characters in this book are Melva and Shelva. They're just really fun to read about and their dialogue made me laugh out loud multiple times.

-the romance-
You know what I'm going to say...cliche. Fun to read, but cliche. And a bit too focused on the physical side of things.

-content-
See above; the romance is clean, but rather physical at times. No language. Asa is a pretty intimidating character and there are some scenes that might scare younger readers.

-final thoughts-
A fun read, but definitely not my favorite of Sawyer's books. Just a typical Christian romance with a unique conflict thrown in, so if that's your taste, you would probably like this book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.

While I have several of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s books in various levels on my to-be-read pile, her newest release, Song of My Heart, is the first one I’ve read. And it was great—the characters, the story plot, the writing style…it all pulled me deep into the story.

Sadie Wagner came across as a very sweet tempered, gentle, loving girl. Within the first chapter, I was intrigued with her, springing easily to the next chapter to see what would happen to Sadie as she began her new job away from home. And, of course, Thad McKane made the perfect hero to complete this story as the reluctant Sheriff. Can’t help but like him!

Song of My Heart weaves in a very intricate and unique plot—complete with underhand dealings, blackmail, illegal liquor, and guilty consciences. And the way Sadie was coerced into wearing the revealing gown and singing those bawdy songs…I was holding my breath for Sadie!

I really liked Sawyer’s writing style. It drew me in, putting me right into the little town of Goldtree. And her characters—wow, how much fun they all were. Melva and Shelva were a hoot!

Sometimes, when authors jump between a bunch of character point-of-views, it can get confusing. But Saywer pulls it off no problem in Song of My Heart! I know for a fact that I’m more eager to open her other books in my to-be-read pile. And definitely keeping an eye out for her future books!

[Abbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadie’s Stepdad is injured and can’t work and since Sadie is the oldest she is looking for work to help support her family. When her cousin writes her and tells her he found a job for her as well as the chance to sing at an opera house she is excited yet sad to leave her family. Sadie gets to work at a store with two old maids who she grows to love and she also gets to sing for there brother Asa in his underground Opera house. Sadie also finds herself smitten with the new Sheriff in town. But soon things start to change and Sadie finds herself making choices she is not proud of and jeopardizing everything she is working for. Will she make the right choices and find love along the way?

Thad has come to Goldtree to help the mayor find the bootlegging operation. Once he does that he hopes to become a minister. While he tries to find the person doing the bootlegging he gets to know the towns people and finds himself getting to know Sadie and her cousin Sid. As his feeling deepen for Sadie he becomes concerned she might be involved with the wrong doings. Will the truth allow them to find happy every after?

When I first heard about this book it sounded like it would be a fun book and I looked forward to reading it. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book as I had hoped. The author is a good writer but the storyline did not hold my interest.

What I liked: I liked Sadie and felt bad for her that she had to leave her family in Indiana and move to Kansas but understood why she was doing it. I also liked the ladies that owned the store she worked for they where funny and added a lighter tone to the story. I liked the idea of the plot. There seemed like there was going to be some suspense and I was excited to see how it turned out.

What I did not like: I want to be careful here every book takes a lot of sweat and blood and I don’t want to bash this book. My biggest issue with this book was it was to predictable. The story is told by Sadie, Sid her cousin, Thad the sheriff and Asa the store owners brother. The problem with this for me was it pretty much gave away what was going to happen and made it less interesting to me. There was no who is the bad guy or even a climax scene that leaves you sitting on the edge of your reading seat. There was sort of a love triangle as well but it was only luke warm and did not add a lot to the story. I had to force myself to keep reading.

The story does have a good story line about Jesus forgiving our sins and not having to repay others sins. I would honestly probably not recommend this book to others but I will say read other reviews and make up your own minds you might really like it. It was just not a great book to me.

http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever see a situation a mile off and the person involved can't see it until they're smack dab in the middle? Reading this book was a little bit like that for me. At the same time, I could see how Sadie was just so pure and trusting that there was absolutely no chance she wouldn't believe the absolute best of everyone she met, including the person that was just out to use her for their own gain.
I liked that Thad was a good man, and you *knew* he was a good man, but he still had some learning and growing of his own to do. I loved his conversation with Faye, and how he came to understand what Christ's grace is really all about, and then was able, in turn, to remind others of that truth.
4.5 stars (and perhaps my favourite in the series so far!)

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel origineel boek!

[Megan McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadie has always dreams of singing on a stage but she never thought it would come at such a price. Sadie love to sing but she did not bank on her boss doing shady business dealings and using her to cover up his involvement. Thad is trying to make up for his Father. Taking a job as a sheriff his begins to fall for the new clerk next door. Can Sadie and Thad learn to trust each other and will their love survive the testing?

Sadie’s struggles were real I only wish that she saw that her mother would want her to be Godly not make more money. Thad had true troubles but I felt that they were addressed well. Sadie and Thad fit together well. There were times I just wanted to slap Sid. But I guess that is good because Kim Vogel Sawyer mother likely intended for Sid to be the annoying,silly person in the book. Over all I enjoyed this book

[QNPoohBear · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Sadie Wagner receives news from her cousin Sid that his new hometown of Goldtree, Indiana has need of a clerk in a female-owned store and there's also an opera house in need of a singer, it seems like an answer to her prayer. Her beloved Papa is bedridden with an injury and the family needs the money. Sadie is eager to give back to her Papa who has given her so much and use her Fod-given talent for singing to make people happy. She arrives in Goldtree eager and excited to begin a new life and happy to see her old pal Sid. Sid is excited to have Sadie come to Goldtree. He dreams of a future together beyond mere friendship but doesn't know how to express himself easily. Thad McKane has recently been hired as the town sheriff to catch bootleggers. He knows first hand the evils of alcohol, for his father was a drunkard. Thad knows Jesus and knows that as soon as his job in Goldtree is done, he's off to become a preacher to atone for his father's sins. When he meets Sadie, he's instantly smitten with the beautiful, good-hearted girl who is also a friend of Jesus. Sadie enjoys working for the eccentric Baxter twins. At first she loves singing in the underground opera house, eager for the day when Mr. Baxter (brother of the twins) can build a regular opera house. Asa Baxter knows a good thing when he sees it and this young songbird is exactly where he wants her : front and center to distract anyone from anything else he might be up to. When he tells Sadie to learn some new songs for a special male-only night, she feels uncomfortable with the new repertoire. She also doesn't feel right wearing the bawdy dress Mr. Baxter picked out for her, but her family needs the money. If she quits, she'll have to leave Goldtree and leave Thad whom she has grown to love. Soon she finds herself involved in something far greater than she understands and it may jeopardize everything she's every worked for.

This sappy, sentimental novel moves very slowly towards a predictable conclusion. The author lets the reader in on the villain's secret right away so there's no suspense until the end when Sadie becomes involved. I guessed the villain even before it was revealed so it made the plot extra tedious. I also guessed at Sid's feelings before they were revealed and as with the villain's plot, the author reveals Sid's feelings early on in the novel. Thad and Sadie's romance develops nicely and sweetly but I found them a bit too sickly sweet. I didn't really like either of them. They're self-righteous and think they know what's best for everyone. I did feel bad for Sadie being in a tough spot. She had a difficult decision and she was too naive to know how to deal with it. The author doesn't say that Kansas was a dry state until after the characters spout their overly moral feelings towards liquor and gambling which completely turned me off, though I am not interested in either of those things. I understand the reasons behind the Nineteenth Century Temperance movement and late in the novel I discovered that the villain is catering to men with addictive personalities so then I understood Sadie's feelings better. I think this book is best for Christians who enjoy sappy Inspirational romances. It is not good enough for someone who merely prefers clean romances. This is the second book by this publisher I have read and likely the last.

[Ruth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Christian historical romance, and indeed with this book, what you see is what you get. This book has everything you would expect: romance, dashing romantic suitor, sweet heroine, Western town, evil vs. good, nice Christian message. So I cannot fault this book at all for being what it is.

The highlights of the book for me is Sadie. I was able to relate to her easily because she is a singer. I am a singer, too. And even one of my students said that the girl on the front of the book looks like me--nice compliment since the heroine is more then 10 years younger than I! And much thinner. I also enjoyed the way that the Bible and faith in God was woven so easily into the framework of the story. While the two main characters did lose their way, they came back to the Lord, and that was the key. I did like the way that evil was brought to justice in the book. That was probably the most clever part of the book.

I did not rate this book as high as the others I have read recently because I felt like I was reading the same old story. While the book has some good points and a few things that establish its uniqueness, I still felt all too often like I was reading the same story I had read lately. And I did not feel that I was able to connect with the story and characters the way I had with other novels in the genre--just my personal preference. I also felt the ending was very sappy and left a few unanswered questions. But in this book's case, I really would not read a sequel. I do not care about the characters enough to want to read a sequel.

I have agreed that the book deserves a four star rating because it does deliver what one would expect. Perhaps if I had read it at a different time and place, I may have connected with it more. But thankfully there is enough interest within it for me that I was able to read it in a relatively short period of time. It is a light read, and its simple message does come across. I liked the fact that the message was stressed that if you are doing something wrong and you know it is wrong and you still continue to do it, it is wrong--no matter what your reasons!

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Patricia Kemp Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie Wagner has taken a job away from her hometown and family in order to provide for her parents and siblings. Her stepfather was badly injured and is unable to work. An long time family friend recommends Sadie for a job as store clerk in Goldtree, Kansas. She not only has a job to be a store clerk but also the chance to sing in the town's Opera House. God had given Sadie an amazing talent for singing.

Thad McKane is also a new resident in town. But he does not plan on staying in town very long. He has been hired to be the Sheriff of Goldtree only long enough to flush out a bootlegging operation. His future plan is to solve this case earning enough money to pay for training to become a minister. It did not take long for Thad to notice Sadie. He is very attracted to her but is afraid she might be involved in the boot legging operation.

Sadie fears her new boss at the opera house because some of the things her boss has asked her to do could compromise her reputation . She just can not agree with her boss as to what her role at the opera house was about become.

I am sure Sadie moving away from home for the first time in her life and feeling betrayed by someone your family and everyone else had thought to be trust worthy must have been traumatic. When God gives us gifts, like all things in our lives they are to be used to glorify God. Only by the grace of God can we do this.

Another reviewer made a comment in one of her reviews that she wanted to scream at the characters in the book telling them what they should do. Well this is how I felt in this book I wanted to scream at Sadie wanting to protect her from making the wrong choices she was faced with so far from home.

I highly recommend this book.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5

Disclosure
I was given a free copy of this book for review by Bethany House. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.

[Tina Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim has created another winner! Song of My Heart is about love - love for family, love for others and fear - fear of doing the wrong thing and not knowing how to fix it.

With characters like Shelva & Melva (that takes imagination!) who add some comedy, Sadie who is innocent and naive, Thad the Sheriff with dreams of becoming a minister (he's a little "strait-laced" & was hired to investigate signs of bootlegging) and Sid. Sid is the "bad-boy" - the one who helps Sadie find a job and then starts acting strangely.

I usually have problems reading books like this, particularly Christian fiction because they end up "sappy" or too sweet and naive. But I didn't find Song of My Heart to be like this at all. I enjoyed reading a book that I almost felt a part of - I got to know the characters and it felt like the story was unfolding right in front of me. The story flows from one scene to the next seamlessly and kept me "hooked" from start to finish. I recommend this book for families. It's a great book for mother/daughter reading and book clubs too.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deut 31:8 (NIV)

Kim has this verse at the bottom of her website and when I read it I thought that this could of been the theme verse for the book. One that the lead character, Sadie, could have used to lead and guide her instead of not trusting God to help her with decisions and going down the wrong path as she does. Things would of been a lot less stressful for her in the long run. It would for all of us "characters" - real and fictional.

Thanks Kim for a very enjoyable story!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Song of My Heart” is a completely charming story filled with quirky characters, escalating tension, sweet romance and just a few chuckle-worthy fiction moments.

I’ve got to start with the secondary characters, Melba, Shelba and Asa have got to be the most outrageous characters – not in a bad way – just in a bit of the ridiculous funny. Get into the way Asa (the villain) thinks and you just might want to chuckle – I did. (wink)

I loved Thad. A strapping hero, but with a heart of gold, though he isn’t without his troubles for sure. I love the subtleties of his character, his growth and realization through the course of the story.

You can’t get any more emotionally tormented than Sadie. Though I’ve never been in her kind of situation to need to provide for her family, I could completely understand and feel for that pull toward what’s right and what she needs to do.

The ending was definitely my favorite part of the novel. So many parts of the story came together for a well written ending that charmed and entertained this reader.

Reading is all about entertainment and I found it easy and enjoyable to escape for a few hours into “Song of My Heart”. It’s a delightful read and a ready addition to my collection.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.

[Vickie McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Song of My Heart is a sweet historical romance. Sadie is a brave young woman who leaves home to work in another state to help support her family. She realizes her dream of singing on stage, but soon she must choose between her dream and her beliefs. Sadie faces a struggle that most Christians face at one time or another. Her story is very realistic. Thad, the hero, is also a great character. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect title! I had a song in my heart all the while I was savoring Kim Vogel Sawyer's new book. Filled with her trademark memorable characters, this is a story that will resonate in readers' hearts long after the last page is turned.

[Strawberry · Rating 1 out of 5]

The thoughts and actions of the main character of this book were so heartless that it made me angry.
The author wants us to believe that the main character thinks she’s witnessed a murder. But she shows the same remorse for a broken glass bird in equally amounts as a person’s death. Her conscience causes her grief for days when she sings a lusty song, but she goes about her business when she’s done nothing to prevent a death. She calmly prays for forgiveness and sings to comfort herself after she tells the mayor where to find the body. A person may be able to suppress their guilt if they don’t know the victim, but to feel no more responsibility or grief for someone they know is unbelievable.
The author should have alluded to the victim being held somewhere, possibly hungry or injured, but not dead. That would have made the thoughts and actions of the main character make some sense.
She’s the worst kind of fraud to later act as if she cares about the victim.
I also found the ending trite, the layers of hope-filled sentences annoying and the shallow use of scripture almost offensive.
I’m permanently crossing this author off my reading list.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dream gone a bit awry. Sadie Wagner dreams of singing opera. When her cousin sends for her with the temptation of that dream being fulfilled in Goldtree, Kansas, she takes the bait with her family's blessing. Little do any of them know what she is being sucked into....a life that challenges her Christian beliefs. Two men also vie for her affections, while she is being controlled by a third.
This book doesn't lack for action. The characters are many and varied. I particularly liked the sisters who run the mercantile. Tough on the surface but loving on the inside. The sheriff, newly appointed to uncover corruption stands as a paragon of virtue. There has to be one in every story.
A fun read.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Song of My Heart is a really sweet story about sticking to your morals despite pressure from the outside world. I especially loved the focus on letting go of control and trusting that God will provide even when the situation seems precarious. The whole story was a delightful romance. The way Thad and Sadie fall in love, act around each other, and overcome the challenges put before them is fun to read along with. Asa is an excellent villain with a chip on his shoulder. The layers of secrets and intrigue surrounding the singing room were fun to uncover, and the whole situation created some exciting moments within the tale. Sadie is a great main character who struggles but does the right thing in the end. Nothing super surprising happened but despite that I still enjoyed every minute of it.

[Diana C. Kobylak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational story about a young woman answering the call to move away from her family. Her papa has been injured and unable to work and support his family. Sadie receives a letter from her cousin Sid in Kansas for an opportunity for work as well as sing, her lifelong passion. Sherrie McCain has also answered the call to protect the city and make amends to right the wrongs of his father. They both learn through their trials and other people that that God can work in their lives and fulfill their destiny when they trust God and do the right thing.

[Candace Heki · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the most stressful books I've ever read. I was just honestly so tense while reading it because everything just kept going wrong, and getting worse and worse. The conflict dragged on and there didn't seem to be an end in sight until BANG! It's over. I feel like there wasn't really a sufficient falling action and the conclusion seemed lacking.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was not my favorite. If this story was for real I can't see the happily every after ending that this story had. I liked some of the themes that the story addressed but I thought the story was a bit odd.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I moved back and forth from liking and then disliking a couple of the main characters due to a lack of believability! I just couldn’t wrap my mind around some of Sadie’s choices and her lack of simply speaking up at crucial points in the story.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this historical romance by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It had a bit of a more exciting/thrilling plotline which I wasn’t expecting. We also got some chapters from the villain’s perspective which added more excitement. I thought Sadie was a bit naive at first but she did improve by the end. It was another sweet read. This author has become one of my favorites for historical fiction.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: HISTORICAL ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: BETHANY HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: FEBRUARY 01, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD

PROS: Good moral lessons; sweet romantic story

CONS: Secondary characters seem caricatured; mystery isn’t much of a mystery; romance is a bit predictable

Sadie Wagner would do anything to help support her family financially, but her true dream is to sing. When a job opportunity opens up in the small town of Goldtree, Kansas and comes with the possibility of being able to sing in an opera house, Sadie can’t help but think that God has answered all of her dreams. Her initial experiences of working at the mercantile in Goldtree and singing in the luxurious yet bizarrely-located basement opera house run incredibly smoothly, and there’s the added bonus of the new sheriff, Thad McKane, who always seems to be around to lend a hand. Sadie has no idea that Thad has been hired specifically to track down the bootleggers who are manufacturing and selling illegal alcohol and could potentially destroy the town’s reputation. Thad’s struggling to find a lead, but it looks like the crime could be more closely tied to Sadie than either of them expect. When Thad starts to get an inkling of what’s truly happening in Goldtree, both of them are tested. Sadie has to decide how far she’s willing to go to support her family, and Thad begins to question what calling God has truly placed on his life; is he meant to be preaching or protecting?

I’ve only read a couple of Kim Vogel Sawyer’s novels, but I can already tell why she’s so popular in the Christian historical fiction genre. While I’ll be the first to admit that she tends to follow what some would call “predictable” romantic plots, her novels never fail to entertain and always leave me feeling content. Song of My Heart is the epitome of the “feel good” novel. I knew where the romance was going from the first page and figured out the mystery early on, but that didn’t make me want to quit reading. I still wanted to see how the characters reached their inevitable happy ending. A good novel isn’t all about the conclusion, but rather the journey that the characters take to reach this ending. After all, if this wasn’t the case, then why would publishers continue to publish romance novels?

Although I enjoyed reading about Sadie singing in the opera house, I’d have to say that my favourite character in Song of My Heart was actually the hero, Thad. Sadie didn’t really have much to overcome as a character, but Thad certainly had a lot to deal with. His tough childhood led him to believe that he should be a preacher in order to atone for his father’s sins, and he glorifies the work of ministers. I was cautious initially about this storyline as I do think that a lot of Christians feel that they should be called to work in ministry, and that being a minister or doing mission work is more important to God than being a doctor or a high school teacher. Thad is just as confused about this. He enjoys working as a sheriff, and really feels productive in helping people out around the small town of Goldtree, but it takes him a while to realise that perhaps this is the job he’s been called to, and not the traditional sense of “ministry”. I was really pleased with the way Kim approached this topic, as I thought for a while that this might be another book that glorified church ministry above all else, but Kim very tactfully demonstrates how different occupations can equally bring glory to God. She doesn’t belittle the work of ministers, but nor does she suggest that being a minister is more worthy than being a sheriff. I’m sure Thad’s lesson will strike a chord with many readers and make them consider what God has truly called them to do.

While Song of My Heart has a strong hero and an endearing heroine, the secondary characters felt quite caricatured at times. Initially I found them quite amusing, but after a while the humour seemed to wear off. Melva and Shelva, the sisters who run the mercantile, were two characters that I particularly found more annoying than amusing by the end of the book. I think that all of the side-characters did have the potential to be engaging, but the traits that made them stand out became too exaggerated to truly be realistic. And if believability is what you’re looking for, you may find the mystery aspect of this novel a bit disappointing as well. I’m not sure about other readers of this novel, but I certainly figured out who was behind the illegal alcohol as soon as his character was introduced. I didn’t mind this too much as none of the other characters in the novel knew who was behind the illegal activity, so it was entertaining to witness the mystery unfolding around them.

While Song of My Heart isn’t one of the strongest historical novels I’ve read, it won’t disappoint in providing Kim’s signature blend of romance, mystery and endearing protagonists. Long-term fans of Kim Vogel Sawyer will definitely be satisfied with this offering, and even if the romance and mystery were a bit predictable, this book is sure to put a smile on your face.

Review title provided by Bethany House.

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Kim Vogel Sawyer’s simple, yet descriptive, writing style. Her heart-tugging stories are so intricately woven with love, faith, and humor. Song of My Heart is about a young woman who has some hard decisions to make and finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place, a spot we so often find ourselves. Sawyer reiterates the fact that even though we may make a wrong decision, God is always merciful and forgiving, and His way is perfect despite the trials we face while following His will.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good Christian read...

[Spring M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters are a bit flat with the lead female less endearing than you’d expect. A good read but not really a page turner.

[Chere Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

an enjoyable read.

[Emily Ste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

[Harvey DeFries · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good story line. strong family emphasis and christian faith principles.