Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace. After a tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson's life is finally back on track. Her battle with bulimia is under control, her career is taking off, and she's surrounded by a loving family. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, leads to old feelings returning with new strength. And suddenly her well-balanced world is thrown off kilter. Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But the reasons they broke up aren't lost--and those old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. He isn't sure he's 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. Fans of Lisa Wingate and Rachel Hauck will add Amanda Wen to their must-read shelves.
The Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen
Series: Sedgwick Chronicles #2
Published by Kregel Publications on May 24, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Historical, Fiction / Romance / Historical / 20th Century, Fiction / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Rating: 
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My Review:
I enjoyed Amanda Wen’s debut and so I was really looking forward to this one. I was instantly invested in Rosie’s story and the intrigue of her relationship with the mysterious Ephraim. Quite possibly because of how interested I was in that timeline though, I couldn’t bring myself to care about Lauren and Carter’s part of the story. I just wanted to skip through it to get back to Rosie. I enjoyed the read but honestly think it would have been better if it were one timeline with Rosie and Ephraim only. It captured my heart and did unexpected things to it. It’s hard to share anything without spoiling, but I’ll say it still has me thinking even after the cover has been closed.
*I received a copy of this book through Audra Jennings PR. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
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