The Street Singer

by Kathleen Neely

Trisha Mills, a student in her final semester of law school, has fond memories of listening to the music of Adaline, a once famous recording artist. She learns that Adaline, now Adda
Marsh, is a street singer. Adda’s sole means of support in her senior years comes from the donation box. Along with her meager possessions, Adda has a box labeled, “Things to Remember.” Adda agrees to show Trisha the contents. With it comes her story. Adda reveals her journey by sharing a few items at a time, beginning as a sharecropper’s daughter in Mississippi, to fame in Nashville, and to poverty in her old age.

Trisha is busy cleaning out the home of her deceased grandfather, preparing to sit for the bar exam, and planning her wedding to Grant Ramsey. However, she cannot overlook the
injustices that Adda has experienced. Aided by Rusty Bergstrom, an attorney who will work pro bono, Trisha convinces Adda to seek restitution.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian

ebook

Published February 22, 2019

About the author

Kathleen Neely is a retired educator, wife, mother, and grandmother. After teaching elementary school, she moved into administration, serving as principal at Eden Christian Academy in Pittsburgh, and then at Shannon Forest Christian School in Greenville, SC. Kathleen's desire is to write wholesome fiction that honors Christ.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, what an emotional rollercoaster read! I loved it and highly recommend it for book clubs. I feel there could be some incredible discussions. This book is worthy of a 5 out of 5-star rating!

Everything Trisha has worked for and dreamt about is within reach, when past memories set her on a path for justice for someone she just met. Does this alter her future?

The Street Singer follows two women whose lives become entwined through the beauty of music and the importance of seeking truth and restoration. Adda Marsh, formerly known as Adaline, is an elderly, homeless woman who sings on a street corner with a box for donations in hopes to provide for her daily needs. Trisha Mills, is a law student soon to graduate and sit for her bar exam, planning her wedding, and cleaning out the home of her beloved, deceased grandfather, Pap, where she finds albums that bring back sweet memories.

A friendship develops when Trisha recognizes the music and the artist as the woman on the street corner. Life wasn’t always so difficult for Adda but years of immoral guidance and being taken advantage of by her agent has led her now to a life of poverty with all her possessions contained in a few cardboard boxes . Adda slowly reveals her past to Trisha through items in a box labeled “Things to Remember”. Trisha is appalled by the injustices that Adda has endured and seeks to ”set the record straight”.

I’m an avid reader of many genres and excited when I discover a debut author that makes me want to read more of their books. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Kathleen Neely has a talent to draw the reader into the story and create characters that become loved or loathed. I especially liked the way truthfulness was gently woven into the text. A few of my favorite statements were:

“Tears are a cleansing gift from God. They’re natural and healthy. Even Jesus wept, and there’s no weakness in Him.”

Another favorite was: “Don’t spend the rest of your life with the wrong person because you don’t have the courage to make the change.”

I did receive an advance copy of this book but nothing was required of me in exchange. All thoughts and comments are mine and given freely.

[Pam Erwin]

The Street Singer” by Kathleen Neely is what one might consider “redemptive fiction”. The main character, Trisha, develops into a lady who is no longer controlled by those around her, but free to live an abundant life. As she reaches out to Adeline, a victim in so many ways, both of their lives are tremendously redeemed. “God doesn’t waste our scars!”
The settings of Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC make this book even more appealing, since I live in that area. There is intrigue, love, humor, and a host of other emotions as the story unfolds.
A must read for any who rejoice in seeing what was meant for evil used for good!
Pam Erwin

[Barbara M. Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Neely's novel. What an adventure to see injustice righted by big-hearted people. Trisha has her life all planned out with Grant until she visits a woman whose voice captivated her as a child. When Trisha helps the street singer who used to be a starlet, her fiancé isn't too keen on the interruption before their wedding. Enter Rusty, the pro-bono attorney who is compassionate and hoping to make Trish see the light where Grant is concerned. I loved the ending and seeing justice reaffirmed. Don't miss this amazing story of finding true love with a person who affirms the real you.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written book that once you start reading you can't stop. It is written in such a way you feel like you are there. Kathleen Neely writes with so much emotion and paints the scenery with words. You will fall in love with the people in this book . I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes good, clean, christian fiction. Thank you Pelican Book Group via NetGalley for the free copy of this awesome book. This is my honest opinion.

[Larri · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a delightful read to hold your interest, you'll find it in Kathleen Neely's "The Street Singer." It was a quick read I finished in an afternoon, though the subject matter and Southern characters had depth. The story took several unexpected twists, and I found myself grinning as I read the banter between characters. And even though I laughed aloud a few times, what surprised me most was when I was moved to tears at a key moment of the story; so I give this novel high marks for evoking those emotions. What sets 'The Street Singer" apart from other novels is the characters. They resonated with me to the point I have thought of them, and found myself wondering what they would be doing today. This author has made her characters come to life, and I love that fortuitous gift.

(I received an advanced copy free of charge and was not required to leave a positive review. I loved this novel so much, I purchased it as gifts for some of my friends & family. If it becomes available in paperback, I will be adding to my bookshelf. It will be enjoyable reading again.)

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book by Kathleen Neely. It had me swiping pages on my iPad as fast as I could! My favorite part of the book was the fact that just as I thought I figured out where it was all going, the author threw in some twists and turns and made me shake my head.

The emotions brought out in the book were all over the place. You cheered, you got angry, you laughed, you cried. And the truth is, this story is probably so realistic to what happens to people and we don't ever hear about it.

I definitely recommend this book. It is well worth the read and will have you thinking about it even when you aren't reading it!

Disclaimer: I have received the ebook-ARC book from the publisher with no expectations in return. The opinions I have expressed above are mine. And the choice to leave a review was my decision. I enjoyed the book and chose to review for others who are looking for a similar book.

[Sandy Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is really a good story teller and this book held my attention even though I pretty much guessed how It would end. It would make an excellent Hallmark movie! One weakness was the lack of depth of the principal characters. The street singer was well done. Her background, presented through the sharing of her memories led us to where we found her at the beginning of the story. Trisha, Grant and Rusty less so. In flashbacks, we might have learned more about them and what brought them to this this point in their lives, although Trisha's past was somewhat shared. I guess I enjoy the psychology of behavior, why people behave as they do. In spite of this lack of depth, it was definitely a very enjoyable book!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially drawn into The Street Singer because of similar experiences with Trisha Mills, the main character: working on a graduate degree while engaged, the Asheville area, etc. I quickly became lost in the story itself, though, as Trisha, already dealing with the loss of the grandfather who raised her, prepares to graduate and has to navigate a somewhat taxing relationship with her fiancé, all while trying to be true to who she really is. In the middle of all this is a delightful relationship with Adda, a homeless woman who turns out to be a former celebrity, and a budding friendship with the young lawyer who joins in helping both of them in unexpected ways.
Ms. Neely weaves a lovely tale of a single girl, an inheritance that could be a white elephant, and the sweet human kindness of helping someone who is in a difficult spot. I am not usually a fan of Christian fiction, but Ms. Neely pays attention to the plot development and factual context which gives a plot integrity. Her character development pays off by leading the reader into the pathos of Trisha’s and Adda’s situations, the sweetness of their unexpected friendship, and the delightful way their lives become entwined.
Even though I was given an advance copy and asked for an honest review, I plan on buying several copies for gifts once the book is out in print. I will be delighted to share this story with several friends.

[Marcia Hammerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Street Singer. This was a heartwarming story of two people unexpectedly having their lives entwined. The author did a beautiful job at creating intriguing characters. The book held my interest from the very first paragraph and that doesn’t always happen when reading a book. I was delighted that it continue to hold my interest throughout It was an interesting story that I had trouble putting down once I started. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. The characters of Adda and Trisha are among some of my favorites. I can’t wait to read other books by this author.

[Sandy90* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. I was hooked on page one. Every emotion was touched from laughter to anger and everything in between. This author made me feel like I was right in story with the characters. The relationship that develops between Trisha Mills a young attorney and Adda a basically homeless street singer is so touching. Miss Adda has as her one important possession her box of memories, which tells the story of her life. There is suspense and intrigue as the bad handling of her early career is wrought with the culture of the south in the treatment of black people during the 50’s and 60’s. How will Trisha help Miss Adda and how will Miss Adda help Trisha? It’s a must read for the answers and how God is seen throughout the book. I am anxiously awaiting the next book by this author.

I was given an advance copy of this book to read and review.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story moved me to tears and I wanted to meet Adda and hug her. Her story is brought to light as Trish happens upon her one day singing in the street. Now Trish recognized her from old albums her grandpa had. She remembers dancing with her grandpa to the sweet sounds and couldn’t believe that she was right in front of her singing her heart out.

Trish has a lot going on with her upcoming wedding , studying for the bar and fixing up her grandpa’s house she inherited. I think she has a full plate but God has a plan for her. It is not by chance that Trish befriends Adda. I think they both needed each other. I loved how Trish has compassion for this older woman who lives on the streets. It was puzzling why this woman who was once famous was now homeless.

Adda is by far my favorite character. Her life story is filled with hardship and injustice. This sweet woman had no idea that she had been cheated out of money by the record company. Through everything Adda has been through her faith is strong. I cried as she goes through her remembering box and shares her story. How is it possible that someone could take advantage of someone the way Adda was? In the days she was singing it was obvious that the color of her skin made others treat her with prejudice. The beauty of these two ladies friendship is grace, unconditional love and opens doors for Adda that she never dreamed was possible.

The story would not be complete without Rusty. He is definitely a great person who does pro bono work. As he takes on Adda’s case he begins a friendship with Trish. With these two working together there is bound to be a little attraction. The author shows us how caring Rusty is as he goes to battle for Adda. He is determined that Adda be awarded for all the royalties she was cheated out of. I liked how Rusty looked out for her and treated her with honor and respect.

The story is a journey through the eyes of a woman long forgotten who never asked for much. Her voice is like a sweet sound that soothes the soul. With these three people working together they form a friendship that helps Adda realize she will never be alone again. Does she win her case? What about the man who Trish is engaged to? Will Trish found happiness with the right person? These answers are found in this stirring novel that shows readers that we should never give up hope.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books by Kathleen Neely and I am always excited when a discover one of hers that I haven't read yet The Street Singer is the latest book that I have read by Kathleen Neely.

Trisha Mills is remembering her love of recording Artist, Adaline. Trisha is now about to Graduate Law School learns that Adaline is now Adda Marsh, and she is a homeless street singer. Adda lives in North Carolina, far away from her days when she was a singer in Nashville. Adda supports herself with the donations that are thrown in her box while she is singing on the streets. Adda and Trish become friends and that is when Adda shares with Trish all the struggles she has been through that has led her from fame to misfortune in her "Golden Years". Trish learns so much about Adda and it frustrates her. Trish is in a busy time in her own life, about to Graduate Law School and cleaning out her deceased Grandfather's house, planning her upcoming wedding. but she is determined to help Adda. Trish is able to secure the help of Attorney Rusty Bergstrom for Adda. Will Adda follow through and seek restitution for all the wrongs that have come her way to lead her to homelessness? Will Trish and Adda form a lifelong friendship?

My heart was definitely tugged at while reading The Street Singer. Trish is a good hearted person. She has a full plate with her own life, but when she discovers a favorite singer of hers is struggling, she adds to her plate to help her new friend. Adda is a person who doesn't want to burden others, so she does what she can to survive. I really LOVED how Adda trusted Trish enough to reveal her past and all the injustices that were done to her. Rusty Bergstrom is AN AMAZING Lawyer for taking on Adda's case Pro bono! I was unable to put the book down until I finished the book. It truly tugs at the heart! GREAT BOOK!

[Connie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Street Singer is written by Kathleen Neely. This is the second book that I have read by this author. The one thing that I am learning about this author is that she will send you on an emotional rollercoaster and will tug at your heart strings. This book follows the lives of two women. Two women who are brought together by the beauty of music. Two women who have had very different lives.

Trisha Mills is engaged to Grant who is a financial planner. His father is a politician. Trisha is a law student who was raised by her grandparents. Her parents died when she was young. Trisha grew up listening to Adaline with her grandfather. She was one her favorite artists. However she finds out that post fame has not been kind to Adaline. She has now been supporting herself as a street singer. She carries a box of her belongings around with her. Trisha finds this out and gets to know Adda, as she is known now.

Grant is not thrilled about this new found friendship, especially after Trisha learns Adda's story and wants to seek justice for her, through the help of Rusty. Rusty takes on Adda's case pro-bono. I love Trisha and her big heart and wanting to help right the wrongs that were done to Adda.

Well written, intriguing storyline, great characters. I enjoyed this book. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program, all thoughts are my own.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this touching novel. It is a tender story of a young woman being misused by a greedy man, being cast aside and finally being recognized by a woman who adored her recordings. Adda is a treasure. Even though she had been mistreated, she was not bitter. She is a good model for anyone robbed of what was rightly hers. Trisha is such a sweetheart. I love her desire to somehow help Adda. She has such a wonderful heart, how could she possibly be planning to marry that pompous Grant? And then there is Rusty, another sweetheart and an attorney willing to help Adda.

This is a captivating novel with two aspects of the plot deftly intertwined. One line is about helping a disenfranchised elderly street singer. The other line is a budding romance. The two work together to provide an engaging and encouraging novel. Neely's writing style is a pleasure to experience.

I recommend this novel to readers who like one highlighting people who can helping people who don't know how to help themselves. It is a dual love story, an unconditional love, like God's, overarching a romantic love. A fine novel.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. Cy comments are an independent and honest review.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the setting of this book drew me in because I went to college in Asheville, North Carolina. But regardless of what initially drew me to this book, the story kept my interest. Trisha Mills desires nothing more than to finish law school and marry her fiancee. But a chance encounter with a former singing star who now lives in one room and sings on the street changes everything.

Adda, formerly known as Adaline, carries her memories around in a box. When Trisha recognizes the music studio failed to take care of Adda, she sets out to achieve justice for the former star.

From sharecropper’s daughter to star to living on the street, Adda shares her memories with Trisha and Rusty, the lawyer who works with Trisha to obtain justice. I appreciated the pace of this book as well as the characters.

So if you enjoy stories set in the mountains, home renovations, and music, check out this book for yourself. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Randi Sampson]

Have you ever read a book description for a book and honestly really just had no idea what to expect when you actually started reading the book? Honestly, this was one of those books for me... I wasn't sure what to expect in the slightest. And as such, I must say I'm not sure that based on the description alone I would have picked it up on my own... but I was pleasantly surprised with the story that unfolded and the unlikely friendship between these two women ---Trisha and Adda--- that developed despite their very different stages in life. The author did a great job of drawing you into the lives of these characters and kept you wanting to read more. This was particularly true of Adda and all of her experiences throughout her life. I found it to be a very quick read, and an enjoyable one at that. If you're looking for a good read that will pull at your emotions, this is one to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So much love for this book. I didn’t want to stop reading it. I also wanted to strangle a few characters and also give some hugs and some stern talks to other people too. Does anyone else get invested in books like this?

The characters truly drew me in. Trisha is a wonderful character but I want to talk to her about her self-worth and the men in her life. I definitely was rooting for one over the other!

A wonderful read about a singer and how people can have an agenda. I can’t recommend it enough. Definitely gets 5 stars from me and a glowing review. Go read Adda’s story. You’ll get all the emotions.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had the pleasure of reading previous books by Kathleen Neely in the past and enjoyed them. I was happy to have the opportunity to read her release, The Street Singer. I thought it was pretty good. I adored the character of Adda and loved seeing how Trisha and Rusty was rallied together to help her. This is a quick book to read that is easy to follow and one that is so inspiring to read. I liked it.

I am giving The Street Singer four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean fiction. I will be looking forward to reading more by Kathleen Neely in the future. I thought this one would be one definitely worth reading.

I received a digital copy of The Street Singer from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story. Once you start, it will keep your attention and you won't want to put it down. The author weaves an intriguing story with good characters. I really liked Trish and Adda. Trish has so much going on that I felt connected to her. Life gets hectic and crazy.

Adda's story is heartbreaking. She had so much more than just money stolen from her. There is a lot going on and I loved the interactions between the characters. Emotions are all over the place and high and low, and it was a great ride. Overall, a really good read.

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty interesting story. This was my first book by this author and I must say she is an engaging story teller. The book holds your attention and reminded me of a Hallmark type movie, where you know what is going to happen throughout but you still stick around to watch it. The characters were good but I think a bit more depth would've made them even greater. The storyline was good and kept you reading but it always felt like it could've been made a bit deeper.

If you enjoy books that have an urban type setting then I recommend you grab this one. I definitely will keep my eyes open for other books by this author.


I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Sandy Ryerse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited 6 weeks for this book to arrive (due to Covid-19), but I put it on my "must have" list because of all of the 5* ratings I had read in reviews. I gave it a 4*. It was delightful and couldn't put it down. Neely had numerous story-line threads that were well researched, well-developed, and well finalized throughout the book in a believable time frame. I loved that the main story-line was unique. The fact that I caught myself smiling at the very last line of the book proved that Neely ended the book well. It was a good solid story, but I wasn't dazzled and that's why it's only a 4*.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

" The Street Singer" by Kathleen Neely is a book that will pull at your heart strings. This is a story that has you wanting injustice to be made right. And yes, there are a few characters that readers feel like it is ok to not like because the book is fiction.
This book shows that compassion is always the best and appearances are not what they seemed.

This is the second book that I have read that Kathleen Neely has written and I have loved them both. she writes stories that show what Christians are supposed to do without being preachy.

I received a complementary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
About the Author

[Cathy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Street Singer is a beautifully crafted novel grounded in southern roots. The author delivers an enjoyable story with memorable characters, like Trisha, Rusty, and Adda. Their relationships are endearing. Curl up, pour a glass of sweet tea, and travel to Pap's farmhouse, a place you'll never want to leave.

(I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I admit to not being a die-hard fiction reader, but I finished this book in two nights simply because it held my interest. I couldn't wait to see what happened to the characters and I wasn't disappointed.)

[Kathy Gaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Street Singer is a novel that will hold your attention. An enjoyable read that will make you smile and bring tears at the same time. It was wonderful to see how Trisha and Adeline’s relationship evolved into trust and love. The author, Kathleen Neely makes the characters real and a pleasure to read this novel. This book held my attention and could not wait to finish it to see the outcome. Looking forward to more novels by Kathleen Neely.


I received an advanced copy and was not required to leave positive review.

[Suzy Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Street Singer after a marathon reading session! I read late into the night because there was always something I wanted to know at the end of each chapter. Trisha is delightfully flawed and compassionate at the same time. When she meets Adaline (The Street Singer) her natural curiosity and sense of kindness propel her into a twisty adventure. I don't want to add spoilers, so you will just have to read for yourself. But I will say this book was well crafted and the characters are believable. A wonderful journey about love and compassion toward "the least of these."

[Lois Kennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Street Singer is a memorable book with lovable characters who stayed with me long after I finished reading. Adda, the elderly woman who sings on the streets of Asheville, NC, still has a gorgeous voice long after she'd been terminated from a music recording company that profited greatly from her as Adaline, but barely paid her enough to make ends meet. A young law student, Trisha, becomes friends with Adda, and recruits others to try to find justice for this humble street singer whose story and voice will tug at your heart. This is definitely a book worth reading.

[Penelope Marzec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a superb story, which really tugged at my heartstrings. The heroine, Trisha, has more than enough on her plate--what with grieving her grandfather, a wedding to plan, and a bar exam to pass. But then she befriends Adda, who tells Trisha the story of her life. From then on, Trisha sets out on a mission. She is determined to do all she can to help the old street singer. The characters were wonderfully drawn and reading about people with such innate goodness in their souls was refreshing. A captivating read!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming tale, enjoyed during a snowy weekend away. Kathleen Neely is a talented story teller who had me equally cheering and despising her characters. She somehow made lawyers endearing, a fiancé reproachful and a street singer unforgettable. Can’t wait to read her next novels out later this year...how she finds the time is beyond me!

I received an advanced reader copy for an honest review and the opinions provided here are my honest take on a delightful inspirational read.

[Amanda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to know the characters in this one, since it showed how the little choices of everyday people can make a big difference. As well as the push back that can happen when you try to pursue what is right. This story was hard to put down, as Trisha takes on trying to help Adda re-claim her life. The author does a fabulous job of writing the characters and the setting!

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

[Carol James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Street Singer by Kathleen Neely. This novel is a true love story on so many different levels. The author does a wonderful job of creating a beautifully flawed heroine, Trisha, who rises above societal expectations and norms to follow her heart and do the “right” thing. And Rusty? What a beautiful picture of sacrificial love! A wonderful read. I couldn’t put it down.