"song of my heart" by kim vogel sawyer

About the book (from the back cover): 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?

My take: In Song of My Heart, Kim Vogel Sawyer has written a sweet romance ... but it's much more than that! At first, I had difficulty getting into the novel, but once Sadie got established in Goldtree, the pages flew by. I also really appreciated the author's writing style—she wrote from the perspectives of all four main characters (Sadie, Thad, Asa, and Sadie's cousin Sid) at various times, and I felt that enabled me to "get inside" the characters more than I would have otherwise. Additionally, as someone who has roots in Kansas, I liked reading about towns I know!

As I read the book, I struggled with Sadie's "stupidity." I couldn't understand why she wouldn't just tell Thad about Asa's illegal operation. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw myself reflected in Sadie. See, the heart of her problem was thinking she had to rely on herself to take care of her family, instead of trusting God to provide. She rationalized and justified her actions because she believed it was up to her to provide for her mother and siblings, and when her livelihood was threatened, she decided to do whatever it took to make sure they were taken care of ... even if her actions were wrong. How often do I do the same thing? True, I may not do anything illegal, but I am just as guilty as Sadie of relying on myself instead of trusting in God. Why is that such a hard lesson to learn?

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm grateful for the introspection it spurred, as well. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. If you'd like to see what other bloggers are saying, go here, or you can buy the book here.


About the author: Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren.

She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.

About the giveaway:
Win a Nook Tablet from Kim Vogel Sawyer and RSVP for her "Song of My Heart" Facebook Party {3/29}! Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!

One "songbird" winner will receive:

• A Nook Tablet
• Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of March 29th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."