Secrets can be funny things…
We think they keep us
safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a
mess out of everything. It’s a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a
truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way.
As the lives of this
boisterous pastor’s wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce
attorney intersect on the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal
threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival,
they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way
back to laughter, love, and life.
Secrets Over Sweet Tea
is a stand-alone novel, and is just one of the many books I have read by
Denise Hildreth Jones. She has been one of my favorite authors for quite some
time now, so I’m always excited when I get the chance to read one of her books.
This one I found at a really good price on Thriftbooks, so I knew I had to
snatch it up that way I could finally read it. I’ve been looking forward to
this book ever since it came out, it just somehow got lost on the TBR list, so
I’m super glad I finally was able to purchase it because that made me ten times
more likely to actually get around to reading it. Let me tell you, I am not disappointed that I did.
From the very first page, Secrets Over Sweet Tea captured my heart and turned it completely
inside out as I watched the struggles Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig had to go
through. The level of pain that they both were experiencing was heartbreaking,
and the way their lives got turned upside-down—by other’s choices or their own—left
me longing for redemption and resolution. Although their stories didn’t end in the
same kind of happily-ever-after way, I think both endings were beautiful as
they were a testament to what they let God do inside of them, and that made for
just the most perfect ending imaginable.
Let me give you a little bit of insight so that my rambling
actually makes a little bit of sense. This novel, while it was a story about
secrets and love and real life, there was so much in this story that really hit
me hard and made it one I will always remember. Denise tackled real love in
this story. Real life. And what really happens when we let ourselves close off
our hearts, shut down, and just go through the motions and whatever actions
come after that. The way she described how we are supposed to live alive truly inspired me, and I realized
her words were not just for people who were going through such crazy life
situations. They are for everyone. We all should be living fully alive. That was what stood out to me
most about this book.
But I also really loved the entire storyline, especially the
little bit of a surprise near the ending. By that point, you think you’ve
uncovered all of the secrets, and that it’s just about the renewal and
reconciliation and all that comes after the secrets that were uncovered before,
when out of the blue another one completely knocks you over! I must say, that
last little part of the story was the most unexpected for me, but I think it
gave it just the perfect touch after all these characters had been through
together. And it provided a lot more understanding when it comes to how
Scarlett Jo and Jackson became Scarlett Jo and Jackson.
All in all, I can’t even begin to really describe all the
things I loved about this novel. This review barely even scratches the surface
to be honest. But I wanted to leave you wanting more, so that way you’ll go out
and get this book so that you can read it yourself. I’m telling you, it is SO
worth it. This just might be Denise’s best book yet, and everything she’s
written has made it onto my all-time favorites list so that’s telling you just
how wonderful Secrets Over Sweet Tea is.
It easily earned all five bookshelves, and obviously its own place on my
favorites list, and I HIGHLY recommend it to literally everyone. It will change
your life. And, it’s also just a really enjoyable read, so go check it out!
Happy reading!
To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party
page.
All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Denise
Hildreth Jones.
No comments:
Post a Comment