An ispiring book about the courage to change and become better. This is a sweet, sentamental read that most will enjoy. Some hard topics but done in a way to keep it inspiring.

The Songbird of Hope Hill
A Novel
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Pub DateApr 09 2024
WaterBrook & Multnomah |WaterBrook
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance

WaterBrook & Multnomah and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of The Songbird of Hope Hill for review:



Her survival has led her to a life of ill repute, and today Birdie Clarkson is only searching for escape. When Reverend Isaiah Overly and his son, Ephraim, appear and offer a better life, she takes it. Birdie climbs into the back of the preacher's wagon, ignoring the madam's furious rant. 




Birdie is taken to Hope Hill, the sanctuary the reverend and his wife, Ophelia, founded for women like her to learn skills to rise above their pasts. Birdie finds herself singing in the revival choir Ephraim leads, even though she's certain she shouldn't be representing God.


Despite the Reverend Overly's assurances that no one is irredeemable, Birdie remains convinced that she is beyond saving. Can Ephraim convince her that God loves her more than she can comprehend-and that he does too?


I give The Songbird of Hope Hill five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I very much enjoyed this book. It’s another story loosely based on the book of Hosea in the Bible. It was very well written. The story and character development were spot on.

Enjoyed this story with its twist. A story of new beginnings and forgiveness. I always enjoy the writing of this author. Thanks for the advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher.

Birdie is ever-so-reluctant to live and work at the local brothel. When her father died and her mother ran off, there seemed no other option. The madame, Lida, does permit the local evangelist to minister to her girls from time to time. Birdie and Olga choose to go with the pastor to change their lives. Olga’s reason is different from Birdie’s. Olga needs a safe harbor due to a pregnancy. Birdie was not brought up in this life and wants a way back to normal. And, a way to find her older aunt who lives several states away.

The pastor, his wife and adult son are the caretakers of the recovery home. They provide schooling for the women in addition to finding them employment placements. Lida pops in and out of the story as she has ties to the pastor’s family.

This book had a lot of twists and turns but it was really good.
Birdie had a rough life and I was so glad that she met Ephraim. And of course, the secrets
surrounding Ephraim were very surprising.
I would highly recommend this book. It's a very good read.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

A wonderful story of new beginnings, forgiveness and blessings for all of the characters. I enjoyed reading about Birdie and how the Lord worked in her life from her lowest moments to a life filled with love and happiness. I can't wait to read more books from Kim Vogel Sawyer!

I usually love books by Kim Vogel Sawyer but haven't read one in awhile. This one sounded really good; I love historical romances. Birdie is a prostitute that was rescued by a man that runs a home for ex-prostitutes along with his wife and son. Unfortunately, there is so much religion in this book I felt like I was sitting in church listening to a sermon. To the point where that was the main thread running through the story, NOT Birdie's story or a romance with Ephraim. I haven't finished the book and not sure I will. Very disappointed as previous books I've read by Sawyer have all been the type to not want to put them down.

What a beautiful, lovely story! I love Mrs. Sawyer’s books because they always hold so much grace. This novel was a prime example. It was wonderful to see how Birdie and other women left lives of prostitution and found new places of good repute in society.

The twists and turns were surprising and kept me guessing. One particular twist shocked me in the best way.

The characters were well developed and enjoyable to root for.

I can hardly wait for Mrs. Sawyer’s next book.

Content: brothels, prostitution, unwed pregnancy

Whether you think you've gone beyond redemption and salvation - or if think you're too good for the world - you'll enjoy this book. This love story of transformation, forgiveness, and new life gives hope that anything is possible.

You'll like the characters, find yourself cheering for a happy ending, and enjoy the descriptions. It offers the reader a chance to consider the effects of rushing to judgment and condemnation of others. In Ephraim and Birdie's relationship, there's joy and growth - and yes, that happy ending.

Good for passing time in a quiet week, as a bedtime novel, or speeding along your commute.

What a powerful story of God's redemption, forgiveness, and love.
I absolutely loved this book and fell in love with the characters. The story is told from the points of view of three of the characters, Birdie, Ephraim, and Ophelia.
Birdie is one of the young ladies that found herself in a situation she wished she hadn't been in. When we first meet her she is living and working in a brothel and is clearly ashamed of the fact that she is there.
Ephraim Overly is the son of Isaiah and Ophelia. We meet him when he comes with his father to the brothel where Birdie is. They are there to reach out to the ladies and offer them a place to live and become free of their lives of sin.
Though the story is mainly told from Birdie and Ephraim's points of view, we occasionally get to see the story from Ophelia's point of view.
As the story progresses the author shows how the ministry work of the Overlys impacts not just Birdie, but the other women living at Hope Hill, plus their son Ephraim as well. We also see their struggles in the community. To me, this was a good reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace, mercy, and His forgiveness.
There was quite a bit going on in this story. I loved how the author slowly revealed the backgrounds of characters and how secrets were uncovered. I had some suspicions on how things were going to turn out, but the author surprised me with some revelations.
A wonderful Christians historical fiction story. One I highly recommend.
I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Kim Vogel Sawyer is an author that you can trust to deliver a story strong in faith, and THE SONGBIRD OF HOPE HILL is no exception. Set in 1895 Texas, the novel centers around a husband and wife who have made it their life's mission to rescue women from brothels. When Birdie and Olga leave their old lives behind and try to find new starts at Hope Hill, the Overly's adult son soon finds himself smitten with the shy, musically talented Birdie. Taught all his life by his parents that these women deserve new lives and forgiveness, he wonders if they accept Birdie as anything beyond a "project"? And can Birdie accept that God has not imprisoned her to her past? And will Olga ever be able to be part of a family as she desires? And why, does the owner of Lida's Place seem to hold specific anger and venom toward Isiah Overly and his wife? Much is offered in this redemptive story.

I don't read many westerns, but the musical thread to this book intrigued me, and I am glad I gave the novel a try.

Based on the true story of Rev. and Mrs. J.T. Upchurch, Kim Vogel Sawyer's historical fiction book The Songbird of Hope Hill is both touching and poignant. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the couple established a home for the redemption of erring girls. (For further research on Rev. Upchurch and his work, numerous online resources are accessible.)

Each young woman rescued by Reverend Isaiah Overly has a story filled with sadness and fear that is somber, unsettling and startling. They are welcomed by divine grace into an opportunity for redemption in the gracious Upchurch home. The Songbird protagonist, Birdie, firmly embraces her destiny. She realizes her gift for singing and starts to use it as a means to showcase God's glory.

I value Sawyer's ability to weave biblical truths and teachings into the plot without coming across as didactic. The story was engaging, making me feel as though I was witnessing the events as they happened.

This book is a moving story filled with a profound sense of humanity and depth that leaves a lasting impact.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Waterbrook Multnomah. All opinions are my own, and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

The Tapestry of Grace is a book that shows how when we make our own plans and try to get God to fulfill them it doesn’t always go the way we plan. Sawyer writes a novel that shows how God can work things out in the way we least expect it. This book has romance, hope, grace and inspiration all woven together.

My gratitude to publisher Waterbrook for a NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a 3.75/5 star read for me. I enjoyed it. I loved the plot and characters. I was invested in the story and old time christian community. However, some parts of the book gave me a weird, kind of gross feeling. It just seemed off. If it weren't for that I definitely would have rated it higher. I love Kim's writing and her books. I will still continue to read her books. I would recommend this book to some people, but not all audiences.

The songbird of Hope hill review

I’ve only read a handful of books this year but I feel that each one was handpicked by God for me to read. This one is definitely one of them.

First off I have to say that this is my first read of Sawyer’s which blows my mind since I hear about her all the time. And I can honestly say that this is my favorite of hers so far :)

The way she pulled her readers into the story early on and made me really empathize with Birdie from the beginning made this such a memorable read. I loved each of the characters and how they were portrayed. The Reverend and Mrs Overly, Ephraim, little Ellie, Olga, even Lida. They were such deep characters that I wanted to spend more time with and get to know. (A sequel isn’t necessary but I would LOVE it).

The relationships and friendships were also so beautiful and touching. It wasn’t unrealistic or over the top yet it set my sights so high as to who I should be and what I should look for in friendships. Honestly love a good book that changes my perspective.

Finally, the Christian theme of salvation, forgiveness, and redemption was not preachy but was rooted so deeply and naturally in it. It was so full of joy that it was impossible not to rejoice with them. I also feel such joy at knowing such an amazing and loving God.

I really loved how she handled the more difficult parts of the book. There was nothing in it that I would be ashamed to read out loud and it just handled so gently a topic that is incredibly difficult. I would definitely recommend this as a must-read to my friends.

I loved this book. The storyline was realistic. Women during that time didn't have a lot of options to make a living if they had no family to support them. I thought the characters were well done, showing the many levels of struggle for those trying to get out of the business of prostitution; those willing to help them; and those willing to do anything to keep them there. I appreciate being given the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I will be reading more of this author's books.

About this book:

“Birdie Clarkson only recently started working at Lida’s Palace, a house of ill repute at the edge of Tulsey, Texas. Abandoned and penniless, she turned to someone she thought was a friend, but instead it turned out to be a nightmare. She wants to leave, but doesn’t know how. And how will she ever feel clean again? When Reverend Isaiah Overly and his son, Ephraim, arrive offering a safe haven and better life for any of the women who want to leave, Birdie takes a chance. Ignoring the madam’s furious raging, she climbs into the back of the preacher’s wagon.
The Reverend and his wife, Ophelia, welcome Birdie to Hope Hill, which they founded as a haven to teach women how to read and write, how to keep a house, and other skills necessary to ensure their future will be brighter than their past. Hesitant at first, Birdie soon joins the preacher at revival meetings and becomes part of the chorus, singing alongside Ephraim.
Reverend Overly’s ministry is built on the premise than none are irredeemable. When romance develops between Ephraim and Birdie, will Ephraim be able to convince Birdie that God’s redemption wipes the soul clean—or will she feel forever smeared?”


Series: As of now, no. Seems to be a stand-alone novel.


Spiritual Content- Romans 10:11 at the beginning; Many Scriptures are mentioned, remembered, read, quoted, & discussed; Many Prayers & Thanking God (including a couple “If God loves the way the preacher said He does…[something won’t happen]” prayers by Birdie); Revivals, Church going, Worshiping, Services, Sermons, & Singing hymns; Being baptized; Lots of witnessing to others & Being witnessed to (very frequently); Many talks about God, Jesus, freedom in Him, trusting Him, His ways, following Him, forgiveness, sins, salvation, & redemption; Talks about those & events in the Bible; 'H's are capital when referring to God & Jesus; Birdie thinks God has turned His back on her after she went to Lida’s Palace (also thinking that she can’t trust Him because everyone else she’s trusted has hurt her in some way and later wishes she knew how to pray for others); *Spoilers* At a revival, Birdie feels a tug and around the half-way point prays to receive God into her heart which changes her outlook and thoughts towards herself; She is also baptized as a public proclamation of her new faith; Birdie does get mad at God for a brief moment when disappointing news comes to her and she wonders if this is a test of her commitment to God *End of Spoilers*; Birdie recalls her mother not liking church, not wanting her father to read the Christmas story to her, & being mad at church and God (*Spoiler* this is because a friend was violated by a pastor they both knew *End of Spoiler*); Ephraim and his family have prayed diligently for brothels like Lida’s Palace to end; Ephraim’s father goes to house of ill repute to preach sermons to the women working there and the men who visit those places (the madam makes a comment that there’s been no “sermon good enough” to keep the men away and that “fine Christian folks” in town snub the women there); Ephraim’s parents have warned him about remaining professional to the women at Hope Hill so that the women aren’t distracted about a relationship with a man instead of with God who could “restore them from the inside out”; Birdie feels condemned by church goers for her prior employment & is concerned about always having that stain on her; Ephraim uses his talents to honor God and lives for Jesus, but isn’t sure if he’s happy; Ephraim wonders why God doesn’t heal someone who is doing a lot of good for others & feels like it’s unfair; Ophelia came to a place of peace about putting aside her dreams to support his husband’s dreams (God uses their combined desires to serve a greater purpose); A former brothel worker doesn’t think God bothers with her because of her past (she makes a handful of comments throughout the book); A former brothel worker hopes that God takes the baby in her womb from her; A woman quotes her father talking about God helping those who help themselves and that if God is real, He will help good people and because He’s powerful, she doesn’t need to help Him; A man at a revival talks badly about the former prostitutes and would rather a preacher set fire to the brothels than talk to the people there (he also says that there are sins too big to be forgotten and is mad that the preacher brought the women into a church); Lida says that God let her loose years ago or perhaps she let Him loose; *Spoiler* Towards the end, Ophelia prays with Lida *End of Spoiler*; Someone thinks she is being carried by an angel to Heaven (she is not); Many mentions of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, freedom in Him, trusting Him, His will, following Him, forgiveness, sins, sinners, & salvation; Many mentions of prayers, answered prayers, praying, blessings over food, & thanking and praising God; Many mentions of churches, church going, revivals, sharing the gospel, professions of faith, reverends, preaching, sermons, ministries, worship, choirs, & songs/hymns; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, Bible studies, & devotions; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of God-given talents and gifts; Mentions of a baptism; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of Christians & being Christlike; Mentions of miracles; Mentions of blessings & being Blessed; Mentions of holier-than-thou people, condemning faces at a church towards former brothel workers, & Ephraim’s parents’ ministry being run out of two prior towns by those who opposed their ministry; A few mentions of God’s commandments; A few mentions of God enacting judgment on the wicked; A few mentions of Methodist & Presbyterian Churches; A couple mentions of the book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’; A couple mentions of a woman’s name being stricken from the church’s membership list for having a child out of wedlock; A mention of a man being called a saint; A mention of a preacher being called a “religious fanatic”;
*Note: A few mentions of luck (which Birdie wonders about wanting luck for a new job because luck hasn’t been in her Bible reading); A mention of good Christians praying instead of wishing (which at that reminder, Ephraim plays a hymn singing out a prayer); A mention of the phrase about idle hands being the devil’s workshop; A mention of a family’s “curse” of weak hearts.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s; A mention of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling; A fire, smoke, saving someone in a burning building, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); An Illness, Pain, & Injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Grief & sobbing over a death (barely-above-not-detailed); Ephraim eavesdrops on his father’s private prayer & feels guilt for doing so; A man at a revival talks badly about the former prostitutes and would rather a preacher set fire to the brothels than talk to the people there (Ephraim agrees with him about burning down the brothels *Spoilers* until he sees one on fire and rescues a woman out of the burning building; He is ashamed of his prior thoughts; Ophelia is scared that he started the fire but doesn’t ask him about it; A woman says that part of her wishes she died in the fire *End of Spoilers*); Ephraim bites back bitter comments towards his parents after learning upsetting news; Birdie tells a fib (knowingly, but doesn’t want to tell someone a sudden revelation); Birdie faces a girl who is mean towards her & her snide comments, but Birdie shows her grace; Mentions of deaths & grieving families (including for children, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an illness progressing (weakness of the heart), fainting, injuries, pain, & early deaths because of it (*Spoiler* Ophelia has this and knows her time is near *End of Spoiler*, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a fire, attacks, violence, & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of people running the ministry out of town (including threatening to burn their house down and cause harm/injuries to them); Mentions of thieves, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of mothers leaving their children (including Birdie’s mother leaving her); Mentions of cigars & smoking; Mentions of bullies & their snide comments; A few mentions of a father dying after being kicked in the stomach by a mule (Birdie’s father); A few mentions of an injured dog & the dog being shot at (but will be okay); A few mentions of a liar, lies, & lying; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a child becoming mute after inconsolable weeping; A couple mentions of wars & battles; A couple mentions of threats & bribes; A couple mentions of prisons & jails; A couple mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of hunters & hunting; A mention of possible murder; A mention of arson; A mention of vandalism; A mention of a fist fight; A mention of a drunk; A mention of manure;
*Note: Birdie’s mother left her and ran off with a man; Birdie recalls her mother’s hurtful words & yelling at her; Mentions of the deaths of infants & a mother holding herself aloof from another baby that made it past infancy (*Spoiler* Birdie’s mother with her, which Birdie isn’t sure she agrees with her father’s thoughts on the second part *End of Spoiler*); A few mentions of a book & author (Les Misérables); A mention of a man treating his wife like she’s stupid.


Sexual Content- Light touches, embraces, & nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); A married couple shares seven barely-above-not-detailed kisses and touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Birdie works at a house of ill repute and there’s comments on and many mentions of it (such as Birdie being tricked into staying there, Birdie feeling dead inside because of it, wearing bawdy costumes, a woman asking if a man was eager the night before after seeing ripped clothing, a woman tells Birdie that she doesn’t have anything “worth buyin’” for a man, the women competing against each other, men buying their bodies, the actions there being a sacrifice to strangers of something “that is meant to be shared as an expression of love to a devoted husband”, a madam calling the girls her “merchandise” and belittling them, a madam saying there will be more girls coming to work for her because the world is full of men that will visit them, the women there being used instead of cherished, some women going back to that former life after living it for some time, a couple of the women feeling unclean, their desperation forcing them to sell their bodies, & the money earned from it); The words prostitutes, fallen women, and soiled doves are all used when referring to those who work/worked at brothels or houses of ill repute; Birdie prays that if God is as loving as a reverend says, there won’t be a baby inside of her; Birdie is concerned about seeing men who visited the brothel at a church, but then berates herself thinking that they wouldn’t come to the church; Birdie feels disgraced because of the stain of being at the brothel and feels unclean and not good (this becomes aware to her after seeing condemning faces at a church); Ephraim’s father frequently visits house of ill repute to help the women there and preach to them (Ephraim never went in before this book starts and thinks that he received “enough ridicule and rejection” as a result of his father’s actions by those who don’t understand their ministry; When he goes in, he keeps from looking at the woman because of their clothing, but does look at their faces later); Ephraim’s parents have warned him about remaining professional to the women at Hope Hill so that the women aren’t distracted about a relationship with a man instead of with God & encourage him to find joy and fulfillment in God (like they encourage the women); A woman is infatuated with Ephraim and tries to impress him with her actions and appearance & attempts to be near him often (he’s aware of it and does not encourage her); Ephraim says that the men who go to brothels “engage in depravity, sullying an act God intended to be holy between a husband and wife”; Ephraim comments on the depravity of prostitution resulting in unwanted conceptions and the babies being before in shame, but his mother says that the child is innocent of wrongdoings and that a child’s conception never takes God by surprise adding that every child is a blessing and not a burden; Ephraim struggles with the thought that what his family is doing for the former prostitutes isn’t enough and that the men who frequent brothels should be held for their actions with the women (instead of just the women being shunned by others in town); *Major Spoilers but important trigger note regarding mentions of a sexual assault* Ephraim was conceived when a pastor violated the young piano player at his church who was a 16-year-old girl; That young teen girl was Lida, the brothel owner, and Ephraim is very angry, hurt, and embarrassed by it, thinking less of himself and that his parents lied to him; Ephraim thinks that she became a prostitute because of him and what happened to her; He feels tainted and unworthy after finding this out and for a couple chapters he thinks this; The assault is only described as a violation of the girl and of her trust of the man, no other terms like assault or rape are used in the story part of the book (assault is used in the discussion questions) *End of Spoilers*; *Spoilers* The other woman who leaves the brothel with Birdie, Olga, is pregnant; She would have seen someone who would get rid of it, but didn’t want to hurt the baby because it did nothing wrong, so she was thankful when the reverend came; Olga doesn’t plan to keep the baby, however, thinking it would be best of both of them; Olga says she isn’t good or clean and the baby proves it; She plans to give the baby to a place that will find a good home for the infant; *Major Spoiler* She chooses to get married to a widower and keeping the baby which seems to be a very good solution for her and the man *End of Spoilers*; Many mentions of houses of ill repute/brothels, prostitutes, the women of the house of ill repute’s “visitors”, the women bragging about how many favor them, & being “more friendly” to the men; Mentions of abortions (never directly named, but said as “the person who could make babies leave a mother’s womb” and getting rid of a baby); Mentions of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, the prostitutes who get pregnant at a brothel being casted out if they got pregnant, them leaving the brothels to give birth elsewhere, & seeing someone who would get rid of it so they could continue to work at the brothel (one women didn’t want to do that because the baby did nothing wrong but doesn’t want to keep the baby herself); Mentions of crushes/liking someone, infatuation, & being jealous; Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of adultery; A few mentions of Birdie’s mother running off with a man; A few mentions of some of the women being attracted to Ephraim since he is the only available man around them (this has happened since he first had whiskers; It’s added that sometimes the loneliness would tempt him to respond to the women, but his mother encouraged him to find his joy and fulfillment in God while praying about a future spouse); A couple mentions of a prostitute getting a pair of horses in a trade for her services; A couple mentions of others making speculations if a single man ran a home to rescue and rehabilitate fallen women; A couple mentions of a teenaged girl’s father kicking her out after seeing her kiss a guy which lead her to go to work at a brothel; A couple mentions of reputations & scandals; A couple mentions of married couples kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of the possibility of women being molested; A mention of Birdie knowing how babies are made; A mention of a father calling his teenaged daughter “bad names” when finding her kissing a guy; A mention of a woman appraising Ephraim; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of others snubbing the women who work at house of ill repute (including the “Christian folk”); A few mentions of Birdie giving other women privacy when changing; A couple mentions of a wife and child passing away in childbirth; A mention of a brothel owner wearing sheer clothes in front of a man to make him squirm; A mention of brothel workers not being appropriately dressed.

-Elizabeth “Birdie” Clarkson, age 17-18
-Ephraim Overly, age 26
P.O.V. switches between them, Ophelia
Set in 1895 (Epilogue in 1890)
352 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars

{ Add up to a full star for Older Teens who may relate to the feeling of not feeling worthy enough for God‘s love or a “lost cause”.}

Even though I’ve read and enjoyed many books by this author, I was hesitant to read this book due to it being compared to “Redeeming Love” and “Where the Road Bends” by Rachel Fordham, two books which I admittedly didn’t like due to content and how events in those books played out. That said, I decided to try this book because I’ve enjoyed the faith content this author puts into her books and thought she wouldn’t go into the details of the unfortunate lifestyle that Birdie was tricked into. The actual parts of that house of ill repute are actually only in the first two chapters, so it while there’s many mentions of prostitution and the women feeling ashamed by their pasts, it was kept PG in terms of the actual content, I venture to say, but would still say it’s better for ages 16+.

I was concerned that this book might have the “savior” trope that is very common with this type of plot-line—that is, when the male lead is looked as the main girl’s savior out of a hard or terrible situation and their love is what is the main message of this book. But, once again, I had hope in this author’s faith content shining through and being the true redemptive message and that’s exactly what happened. The faith content was so strong throughout this book and there were very few pages where God wasn’t thought out or prayed to on page. The faith content truly makes this book stand out with the message of God wanting everyone to come to Him no matter your past actions.

I do think that Ephraim fell a bit quickly for Birdie as he wanted to protect her more than the other girls, but the romance was definitely second fiddle to the important faith content and faith moments throughout the book.

Both Ephraim and Birdie could be considered sheltered in different ways, so they did have their moments and thoughts that felt younger than their ages—but then again, Birdie was only seventeen so it makes sense for her. I did find it hard to connect to both of them and I wouldn’t say this is a new favorite by this talented author, but I did enjoy all of the faith moments and discussions.




*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.

As a musician, I always enjoy books that involve a musical storyline, and this one was no exception. While it does involve the theme of brothels and prostitution, I appreciate that no intense / unnecessary details were gone into, and was more just implied along the way. Instead, Kim choose to focus on the redeeming values of saving the girls out of that lifestyle and showing them that they still have worth despite what the world wants to tell them. It's a story of beauty amidst the ashes (in part of the book, literally, heh) and was a very enjoyable read!

My thoughts: The Songbird of Hope Hill is a historical fiction written by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I don't read a whole lot of historical romances but Ms Sawyer is a go to favorite. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story that will keep you guessing as to the story behind the story and how it will all work out. The hero and heroine both have a hard life and so does the hero's parents. I fell in love with most of the characters and had to keep reading to find out what happens. If you like romantic suspense you will love The Songbird of Hope Hill. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.