January 5, 2010

Book Review: The Sweet By and By


Such a new and refreshing perspective for anyone who loves a good fiction book!  Set in the comfortable backdrop of Tennessee, we meet Jade weeks before her wedding.  Jade has shut the door on a painful past, and wants to move forward to a happy future with the man she loves. 

Unfortunately, for Jade, weddings are a time that naturally bring up the past.  And what begins as a polite invitation to Jade's estranged mother turns into the uncovering of every painful memory of Jade's past that she has desperately tried to forget.  The book is cleverly written by alternating chapters of past and present.  We gain perspective on a current conversation or incident when the author then takes us back 20-30 years.  Through this travel of time, we start putting together the pieces of Jade's life, and yet there are still twists and turns saved for us until the very end of the book!

Jade's character is smart and likeable, yet vulnerable from her childhood hurts.  As she is forced to deal with her skeletons, we see forgiveness (given and bestowed) transform her from an abandoned child into a woman marked by strength and grace.  I highly recommend this book!  For more reviews go to Thomas Nelson.

2 comments:

Katelyn said...

It sounds like a good book. It's good to have you back!

Jen said...

Hi Alicia, I just stumbled onto your page and what a delight, so cheery and refreshing! ;) thanks! ;) I'm enjoying my visit so much and look forward to getting to know you,..
This book actually brought up some of my own memories and its interesting how symbolic this post was for me, and healing to read. So thank you for sharing! So creative, how the divine works! ;) soft blessing to you and yours, xx Jenn