Amy Sorrells's Then Sings My Soul ~ Reviewed

Then Sings My Soul: A Novel
by Amy K. Sorrells
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (March 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434705455


Description:

When Nel Stewart returns home due to the sudden death of her mother, she realizes her beloved father, Jakob, is struggling with dementia.

With the reappearance of a high-school sweetheart, deliveries from Ukraine addressed to her, and the discovery of a mysterious, vintage aquamarine gemstone, Nel senses God is pulling her into the past to restore their faith and their futures. Told partially through Jakob's flashbacks of fleeing genocide-ridden eastern Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, the novel combines elements of mystery, history, faith and romance to reveal how God redeems the broken years ... and our future.

Review: 

Then Sings My Soul is about woman named Nel. She has moved away from her home to pursue a life as an artist, creating beautiful jewelry for high-end clients. Her world changes overnight when she gets a call from her 94 year old father, Jakob, telling her that her mother passed away, suddenly. As she returns home to help with funeral arrangements, she discovers that her father has been dealing with memory loss for some time. When he falls suddenly and ends up in rehab, his condition seems to worsen. In the meantime, Nel discovers a vintage aquamarine gemstone as well as information from the Ukraine, leading her to believe there is more to her father's past than she realizes, however, she is unsure how much she will learn with his mind deteriorating the way it is.

This book was well written. The story is told partially through Jakob's flashbacks of growing up in Ukraine, and his escape to the US. I thought it went back and forth without any confusion. Seeing what this man and had gone through so long ago, and carried with him his whole life without telling anyone was just heartbreaking, especially knowing the things he went through really happened. I really enjoyed the story, and how it all came together at the end. 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers