Book Recommendation - The Rhythm of Fractured Grace

 

Amanda Wen is a relatively new author on the scene of Christian fiction. She pens beautiful women's fiction in a dual timeline setting with a light romance thread, a solid faith thread and wonderful character development. The Rhythm of Fractured Grace is the 3rd book in the Sedgwick County Chronicles, but can be read as a stand-alone. However, it's best when read with the other 2, though, as you get a richer picture of the main character's history. This story had great depth with heavier subject matter (though the book itself did not feel heavy) with lots and lots of grace. Using the link of a broken violin that needs repair in both timelines, the author weaves in the healing of not only the violin, but also the major characters. The book deals heavily with themes of forgiveness and healing, including the "me too" and "church too" movements. 



Here's a bit about the book:

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who's calling her back to him?
When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh's shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He's too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.
Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he's fascinated with the restoration process--and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.
As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.
On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell's family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father's prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she'd resigned herself to a spinster's life. But Levi Martinson's gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love--and Deborah's shaky faith--to the ultimate test.
Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God's healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

The historical timeline actually includes real history in the author's family. Her 6x great grandmother was the survivor of a scalping incident that killed several family members. Actual elements of her story are in the historical timeline and that made the story even better. In addition, the violin in the story is based on the author's grandmother's violin. There are other fun elements from the author's life as well. Make sure to read the author's note at the end that details what is based on fact and how much is fiction. Be sure to check it out! You can pick up The Rhythm of Fractured Grace wherever books are sold. For more information, check out the following links:

Amanda Wen's website: https://amandawen.com/

Amanda Wen's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmandaWen

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5754937575

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