Softly and Tenderly

Sara Evans · Rachel Hauck

Oct 2011 · A Songbird Novel Book 2 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

“Fans of Karen Kingsbury’s tender family stories will love this southern-flavored tale of triumph and grace.” —Lisa Wingate, national bestselling author of Tending Roses and Larkspur Cove

The second book in the Songbird series from country music star Sara Evans and New York Times bestseller Rachel Hauck!

Happily married and owner of two successful boutiques, Jade longs to begin a family with her husband, Max. But when she discovers that Max has an illegitimate son—who he wants her to help raise—Jade’s life is turned upside down.

She flees to her childhood home, a rambling Iowa farmhouse, with enough room to breathe. There—while her mother’s health grows fragile, and the tug of her first love grows stronger—Jade begins to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and motherhood. In the wide-open landscape, Jade begins to see a future that doesn’t rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's tender mercies.

"Hang on for an emotional ride as a woman who 'married into a Southern soap opera' learns to forgive and trust again." —Booklist

"Enter the magic of Whisper Hollow and open your heart. Like Sara Evan's bittersweet songs, the notes and melody of Jade Fitzgerald's past sing a new future. In a world of wounded souls, forgiveness and redemption are the lyrics of this enchanting story." —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

“Exquisitely written, an achingly beautiful story about lost and found relationships that made me ponder my own. This story is not to be missed.”—Susan May Warren, RITA award-winning, bestselling author of Nightingale

Ratings and reviews

A wonderful sequel that lives up to the first book and even more! After reading the first book, I was hestitant because I loved it in so many ways - can the second live up to how much I loved the first. It did and even more, it made me excited that there are rumored to be two more books in this series. As the first book centers solely around Jade, the main character, I think the strong suit for this book was to share the central focus on Jade, her mother and her mother-in-law. Each of these three women had a journey in this book and there were similarities in each of their struggles. The reader was able to get to go both mother figures in a deeper way - some of the story was even told from their perspective. A wonderfully heartfelt book that made me cry as I journeyed through the days with all three women. I am calling this the perfect series to curl up with this winter. The third book will be arriving early after the new year, I will definitely be looking for it.

I absolutely love this book

About the author

Multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans has garnered such honors as ACM’s Female Vocalist of the Year, CMA’s Video of the Year, one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,' and the first country star to compete in ABC's Dancing with the Stars. This is her first fiction series.

Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.