Song for a Sunday by Heather Norman Smith: Book Review + Content Warnings

Songs for a Sunday JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Songs for a Sunday by Heather Norman Smith, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Songs for a Sunday

Author: Heather Norman Smith

Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction

Release Date: February 7, 2023

Genre: Christian Women's Fiction/Southern Fiction/Split Time

Two sets of sisters, generations apart--can one big sister's sacrifice teach the other about love and forgiveness?

1963: Twenty-year-old Annie dreams of managing the dance studio where she has trained since childhood and of marrying her high-society boyfriend. But when her younger sister with special needs gets pregnant, Annie is forced to set her dreams aside for the sake of family.

Present Day: Missy Robbins has always lived in her younger sister's shadow. When given the opportunity, Missy steps out of her comfort zone as stay-at-home mom of four to prove she's as good a singer as Erica. Missy's new pursuit puts her on a path to self-discovery and reclaiming her discarded faith. Until she discovers her grandmother has a sixty-year-old secret.

Will Missy conceal Grandma Annie's deception or will she be forced to reveal the hidden truth?

Review

This novel is a Christian dual time-line between Missy and Annie, who is Missy's grandmother. We are first introduced to Missy and her chaotic life as a busy mom and wife. Her family looks like most others: sometimes messy but full of love. As we learn more about her life, we also get to know her grandmother Annie. Alternating from present day to 1963, the story slowly weaves together Annie's hidden past with Missy's present. All throughout, Annie shares wisdom for her young granddaughter, who is struggling in a crisis of faith.

Full of faith, wisdom, love, grief, heartache, and hope, this novel is truly touching and emotional. It is a quick read that you can get through within a few days (maybe less!), but it is packed with a lot of topics. The themes of unconditional love, forgiveness, and hope are really big within it. Even through the trials and hard times the characters went through, the joy of the gospel and God's grace is always there. His power is also sufficient to mend together the most broken of relationships. I liked how all these themes were tied into this one book.

Overall, I really appreciated this author's firm stance on the sanctity of life, the power of God, and the love of family. It was a sweet read and I look forward to other books by her.

My Rating:

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content Warnings:

Prejudice against young unwed mothers, crisis of faith

About the Author

Heather Norman Smith

Heather Norman Smith is a Christian fiction and devotions author. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She also enjoys singing about Jesus. Heather is a proud life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her fiction. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, N.C., where she lives with her husband and their four children, and several pets.

Connect with Heather by visiting heathernormansmith.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 6, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 13, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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