I haven’t read a book by Kim Vogel Sawyer that I didn’t enjoy. It was no different with Freedom's Song. While the others I have read were contemporary this is a historical fiction story. It still has the author’s wonderful easy to read, pulling you into the story style of writing.

Indentured servants are not people I have read a lot about in fiction or nonfiction. I found this one concerning Fanny Beck to be extremely intriguing especially since I think of the term as one of manual labor not performance geared. This is not Fanny’s story only but those she meets after she escapes and the one who had refused to release her upon her fulfillment of the contract. Powerful reminder of God’s hand on lives with his grace and mercy available to all.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

I really enjoyed this sweet story that gave me all the Love Comes Softly vibes.

Fanny Beck was indentured as a young girl to be a riverboat singer in exchange for her family’s immigration from Scotland. However, what her unsuspecting father didn’t realize, the contract was not for 7 years, but 7 years for each family member! Riverboat owner Sloan has no intention of letting Fanny free to live her own life, at least not right now, because he attributes his success to her skill.

When an accident sends Fanny overboard in the chaos, Sloan is devastated by her loss… not knowing that Fanny was able to make it to the riverbank. Given an unexpected chance at freedom, Fanny runs with it, encountering a group of runaway slaves who open her eyes to another type of bondage.

Eventually Fanny’s journey back to her family in New York brings her to the Indiana farm of Walter Kuhn, a German immigrant farmer who is a recent widower with a little daughter who desperately needs help.

Fanny and Walter come to an agreement that seems beneficial to both- Fanny will watch Annalise until Walter’s new arranged marriage arrives, Walter will help pay for Fanny’s ticket to New York. But wide open spaces, diverse friendships, an adorable baby girl, and feelings she never could have anticipated complicates everything Fanny thought she wanted and redefines everything she ever thought about freedom.

I enjoyed the main and secondary characters in this story. I liked the nuanced theme of freedom running throughout, not just in Fanny’s storyline but Walter’s as well. It was a sweetly paced story and felt authentic to 1860. The time it took to travel, the challenges of communication, the simplicity of the Kuhn homestead- it built a realistic world.

I could have done with a little less time spent with Sloan and in the final climax with him I sort of wish there had been just a little more of something, though I’m not sure exactly what I would have wanted to be different. Maybe it was too fast or sudden of a shift?

Overall, this is a sweet romance without a lot of heat, an enjoyable journey with a wonderful ending. Thought-provoking on the theme of freedom and even digs into the questions of whether Fanny’s escape was morally right. It’s a study in beautiful friendships and love blooming from friendship.

With this being my first book by Kim Vogel Sawyer, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading Freedom's Song. What I found was a delight. A story that swept me along as Fanny Beck escapes the riverboat where she is kept locked away when not singing for passengers, encounters a group of escaped slaves joins their journey for a time, then singing for coins to earn train fare from station to station, traveling alone and on foot she hears the cry of a child in distress and the course of her life changes once again.

What a faith filled story, from Fanny's clinging to her childhood faith, to widower and father Walter Kuhn's reliance on God, and even to the softening of riverboat captain Sloan Kirkpatrick as he contemplates the faith of his father while first searching for Fanny and then for her replacement. And what a lovely story on the romance front, with unexpected aspects to the characters of Fanny and Walter, and the complications of his mail order bride.

If you enjoy Historical Romance with a strong faith element and journeys that are both physical as well as spiritual, taking the characters and the reader in unexpected directions, you might find this story delightful as well. Highly recommended.

This review refers to a temporary digital galley that I voluntarily read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

There are many types of freedom to be had, and many types of captors. In Freedom's Song Kim Vogel Sawyer reminds us of the freedom that matters most. This novel is filled with characters who will win readers' hearts. The tension of what if and when will keep readers turning pages, caring about the answers to those questions.

I loved this latest release by this author just as much as all of her other books that I have read, and highly recommend it. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Freedom's Song from WaterBrook via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

1860 was a time when being free was just a word for many. This concept was so different for all the wonderful characters in this book. The author delves into the life of Fanny, whose gorgeous voice could be heard as the riverboat made its way down the Mississippi. For her, freedom was just a word as she was indentured by the captain, Sloan, for seven years, all the while locked in her cabin when not performing.

Enoch and his family had managed to escape their bonds, but would the Underground Railway be able to help them to find real freedom? Walter Kuhn, a widower with a toddler, longs to find freedom from the guilt and fear of being a single parent. Sloan needs to accept his past and find freedom in who he can be. Is it possible that the young lady, who sang for her supper while imprisoned, will be able to share the freedom she has found with those around her?

This wonderful, inspiring novel was received through WaterBrook, Random House and NetGalley. These impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

This book had an interesting concept. I usually like Kim Vogel Sawyer books, even if they are a little light on depth of character and plot.

Indentured to a river-boat owner at the age of 14 in exchange for him paying her family's passage to New York, Fanny is almost at the end of what she believes to be a seven-year term, but Sloan has made it clear that he doesn't plan to let her go. Kept as a virtual prisoner for all these years, Fanny escapes when a fire causes chaos and she falls overboard. Meeting up with a group of escaped slaves, they help each other to work their way north, she heading for New York and they for Canada. But she's delayed on her way by meeting a man with a young daughter who is struggling to manage his work while waiting for his parents to send a new wife. In the end, Fanny will be forced to come to terms with what true freedom really is, and where it comes from...

This may sound strange, but one of the things that 'made' this book for me was actually the bad guy. So often bad guys are just that - bad. Sloan is presented as a thoroughly selfish person who's turned his back on Christianity, but who begins to review his past dealings with Fanny (and to some extent his past life) when he believes her dead and reads some of her letters. It's not that he turns into a good guy, just that we can begin to see the honest appraisal of his own actions that make him turning into a good guy at some stage a possibility. And I think it's that honest appraisal that feels so rare and I particularly appreciate. Having said that, I also enjoyed watching Walter and Fanny together - and when you throw in his daughter, what could be better? I guess the one thing I would have liked to see done differently is having some closure about Enoch and co. - but one can't have everything. All in all, a heart-warming and thought-provoking story, a little heavier than some, but well worth reading.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

About this book:

“Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. However, when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape--an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . .
Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn't arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . .
After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat's captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past--and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . .”


Series: As of now, no, a stand-alone book.


Spiritual Content- John 8:36 at the beginning; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & remembered; Many Prayers; Church Going; Hymns; Talks about God, trusting Him, blessings, & freedom in Christ; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Walter wonders if God listens to him and when prayers are answered, he wonders if God is listening to him more than he thought; Sloan’s father is a preacher and many things he’s said to him are bought to Sloan’s mind (including that he could never comprehend why his father had abandoned monetary wealth to store up treasures in Heaven); Sloan says he gave up praying a long time ago, but starts to become less closed-off during the book; Many mentions of God & freedom in Christ; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Many mentions of hymns & praise; Mentions of those & events in the Bible (including Sloan calling Gideon a big sissy and that you can only depend on yourself); Mentions of Sundays, churches, church going, services, sermons, & pastors/reverends; Mentions of sins & Jesus dying for you; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of Fanny being a Godsend; Mentions of being blessed & blessings; A few mentions of Bibles; A few mentions of angels (most references to Fanny’s singing, but also a mention of her saying that God must have sent angels to save her); A few mentions of denominations; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of a Mormon family; A mention of being named after a saint;
*Note: Sloan says he never liked the cross at the top of his father’s church as it always seemed to mock him; Fanny says Sloan isn’t evil nor a saint; A couple mentions of a mythical elf.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘sissy’ and two ‘stupid’s; Some sarcasm; Being tossed overboard, nearly drowning, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Trauma from a thunderstorm (up to semi-detailed); Assuming that someone has drowned & looking for the body (barely-above-not-detailed, nothing detailed or graphic, but it’s assumed that the body is at the bottom of the river); Sloan aims a gun towards people as a threat; Sloan says he never drinks (even though he sells it on the boat), but gets “rip-roarin’ drunk” and has a hangover (once); Walter feels very guilty over how his wife died & blames himself; Fanny has to lie (tell falsehoods) to protect her new friends from harm (she does not want to and prays to not have to, but does to keep them safe from salve hunters though she prays that God won’t strike her dead because of telling lies); Mentions of fires, smoke, & a death of a women and horse (barely-above-not-detailed, including a woman trying to save a horse from a burning barn and neither of them making it out); Mentions of deaths & fevers; Mentions of slavery, slaves, bounty hunters/slave hunters, & families being separated; Mentions of guns, shooting, aiming at/threating people, robbing someone at gunpoint, fighting & fights; Mentions of bullies & young Walter being picked on and his pocket money stolen; Mentions of lying & lies; Mentions of gambling & betting; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & saloons; Mentions of cigars & smoking; Mentions of plucking chickens & trapping rabbits (no details); A few mentions of a corpse; A few mentions of prejudices; A couple mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of hunters; A couple mentions of rumors; A mention of a near drowning; A mention of being sent to prison in a game; A mention of manure;
*Note: A mention of a child possibly getting a smack on their behind for a temper tantrum.


Sexual Content- A semi-detailed kiss; A few Touches & Embraces (Walter mentions (in his point of view) that he imagined what it would be like to hold Fanny); Blushes (mostly from embarrassment because of society norms at this time period); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed, Fanny noticed Walter’s muscles once); A man offers Fanny five dollars to be with him (it’s implied sexually because of his lecherous gaze, she quickly tells him no and that she is a lady); Walter is waiting on news about a mail-order bride to help him; A few mentions of a husband and wife that want children but have not been blessed with any (the wife cries over this to Fanny); A few mentions of tunes of a bawdy nature (Sloan had Fanny sing songs about enticing a man with rose-tinted lips and other suggestive nature, saying that “her innocent appearance combined with the sultry songs were irresistible”); A mention of that the crew has been told to keep their hands off of Fanny; A mention of Sloan visiting a brothel to try to find a new singer; A mention of flirting; A mention of a married couple kissing; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Fanny does not like her performance dresses as they have plunging necklines and make her feel exposed, indecent, and like a strumpet; A mention of two babies born-too-soon passing away; A mention of a mother dying in childbirth.

-Fainche “Fanny” Beck, age 21 (?)
-Walter Kuhn
P.O.V. switches between them & Sloan
Set in 1860
352 pages

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

Ahh, that epilogue has me sniffing back tears. I wish it would have been just a bit longer in that regard, but the ending was well done.

I’m not typically one for mail-order bride stories, but because this one looked different with the woman not being sent for but happened upon, I decided to try it out. I’d like to say how clean it was: so clean. Sure, there were a handful of moments that were a bit awkward/embarrassing for Fanny and Walter because of the time period and its society norms (such as him not wanting to bathe in the same water/tub she just bathed in, blushing when discussing under garments or baring limbs to show an injury, etc.), but honestly, nothing above that. It was so nice and refreshing. Speaking of refreshing…ah, wait, no, let me go back to the beginning of the book first.

The first 20% of this book was much more intense than I was expecting with Fanny’s events in the river boat to meeting a group of runaway slaves and helping them. (My heart was pounding like it was a suspense book because of those parts—I was so afraid something bad might happen.) The back-cover plot of Fanny taking care of Walter’s daughter doesn’t start until 30% in, which I was a little shocked about when reading, but I was honestly enjoying the other part, so it didn’t matter much to me. But, the original plot begins and the book becomes a lot slower (though this maybe because it’s more intense at the beginning then goes to farm life) which took me a bit to get used to, but it was still interesting.

We do see the Point of View of Sloan, who by all means could be considered the villain of this story, but as Fanny put it so perfectly, he’s not really evil nor a saint. I never felt great animosity for him, but I won’t admit fondness for him either. His parts added to the story at least, though, and didn’t distract from the main plot.

Now, back to the refreshing point: Fanny and Walter. Fanny was a sweetheart and Walter was very different from the average hero we see in the Christian Fiction Historical Romance genre. At first, I wasn’t a big fan of him because of the whole mail-order bride ordering shortly after his wife died, but others convinced him it would be good. However, the more we saw his point of view, the more I noticed that he was different—in his thoughts, treating Fanny respectably and also not lusting over her in a physical way (thank you!), but mainly how he was very worried and insecure. He’s not the typical big, manly male lead we see so often in these books. He was bullied as a child for being different and because of recent events, he’s worried about a lot of things. I just liked the difference in that male lead character, even though I wasn’t really his fan at first. I think he was realistic and that added to my enjoyment of the latter half of the book.

Fanny was very sweet and was such a blessing to many people when see in this book. I loved seeing her faith and how much importance she placed on praying and listening to what God would have her do next and trusting Him. It was inspiring and she was just a lovely character.

One more thing I really liked and honestly found adorable was when Fanny (who grew up in Scotland) and Walter (who is very German) had a couple parts of not understanding what the other was saying or the item they were wanting. I think this may have been my first time really seeing this in Christian Fiction…sure there’s lots of half of the couple is very proud of their home county or native languages, but it was so refreshing to see both of them this way and sharing with the other culture or language differences. It was pretty cute, but also realistic for the beginnings of many families here in the states during this time.

Overall, this book was an easy four-star read and once again, I really appreciate how clean it was on faith and how much faith content there was. Another good one by this author! :)




*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 (uncorrected advance reader copy version) book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review. (Due to it being an ARC, there may be some differences in the final copy compared to the version I reviewed. If you happen to notice any important content differences, please let me know in the comments below with the page number(s) referenced. Thank you!)

This story had all I’ve come to love about this author’s writing. A strong heroine, a great male lead (Walter), beautiful writing and a strong Christian message woven between the pages.

The first 50% of this story had me engaged. I enjoyed Fanny’s journey back to her family, meeting up with Enoch’s family and being detoured at Walter and Annaliese.

Fanny was a strong character who found strength in her faith in God. Walter with his own emotional bondages was easy to care for and love. And Annaliese was just adorable!

But somewhere after 50%, though I totally loved all the scenes with Fanny, Walter and Annaliese, the story felt a bit long with the side plot with Sloan. Maybe if I got to see more of Sloan’s inner struggle between returning to God vs the path he was on, I would have connected with him and his sudden actions af the end. I expected a stronger story with his search from the summary - starting this book I expected he would have been a characters which I would have hated at first but grown to like but sadly he did not won me over.

At the end of the story, I did not completely felt finished with all the characters I’ve met, especially the Moores and their longings and dreams!

Readers who enjoy well-written, inspiring historical fiction, with a hint of romance, will want to add this book to their stack. It is a gentler story, with solid characters that will tug on your heart. Suitable for teens and up.

"No part of her unexpected journey had been easy, and it didn’t seem as if it would be easier ahead, but she’d seen evidence of grace every step of the way."

Fanny Beck has quite a journey to freedom, and some eye opening experiences along the way. Her faith is genuine and grows with insights from others she meets, and the friendships that develop. I couldn't help but root for her and wonder where her path would lead. There was growing tension from the angle of Sloan's pursuit, and his own personal struggles. It had me reading faster, hoping for a happy ending. The author highlights some difficulties faced by immigrants and slaves in the mid-1800's.
An enjoyable story from beginning to end. Recommend!

This book is a *Must Read*! It hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It is beautifully written and full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. It's a book that you hate to see end but you just have to know what happens next. This story will stay in your mind long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Freedom’s Song is a beautiful illustration of what it means to be free spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It inspires hope and the realization that physical bonds have no bearing on true freedom in Christ.

Fanny is a riverboat singer, indentured for safe passage for her family to America. When it looks like the terms of the contract her father signed will not be honored, Fanny prays for a way to find freedom from enslavement. A fire provides the escape she needs, and sends her off across the country on foot.

The first half of the story kept me glued to the pages. Fanny is rescued by a group of runaway slaves who are traveling the underground railroad. Beautiful friendships are forged and Fanny is challenged in ways she hadn’t been before. I loved the depth of emotions the author created in this small troupe, and appreciated the parallels drawn by Fanny, but not so much that Fanny felt she was equal to them. By far, these characters were my favourites.

The riverboat captain is overcome with grief at the loss of his money-making singer. Not only was she beautiful, but she was kind and never gave him trouble. Fanny’s faith was evident aboard and reminds him of his family he left behind. He searches for Fanny’s body in the river and won’t rest until he finds her – dead or alive. We see his internal struggle to find peace and contentment while battling his life goal of building his fortune. Fanny was his ticket to fortune.

Readers are pulled into several states at a time when slavery was still acceptable, and when immigrants struggled to work the land and make something in the land of opportunity. The second half of the book finds Fanny without money and looking for a way to make money in order to get to her family in New York. She makes the mistake of singing for her supper and for a few coins….

The story ties up all the loose ends in a neat package. However, I wasn’t completely convinced that the riverboat captain had changed as much as he did in the end. For the majority of the book he was driven to find Fanny. Then the ending that was given to him didn’t quite seem the right ending.

I would have liked to see more of the runaway slaves as they were fascinating characters. I wasn’t as taken with the characters in the second half, the ones that helped Fanny find her satisfactory ending.

All in all, a satisfying read.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

When I saw a book by Kim Vogel Sawyer, well, I new I would not be disappointed and it was a page turner.

This is a beautifully written Christian story, and you are about to embark on an amazing journey through the words of the author!

I can't even imagine the life Fanny had as a child, indentured from Scotland to sing on a Riverboat on the Mississippi, all to bring her family to this country. When she learns that she will not be let go after the seven years, she plans to leave, but fate, or God puts his hand on her, and what a adventure she is about to begin, and we are there to see whom God puts in her path.

I loved how her owner, on her trail, he wants another nightingale to entertain his passengers and bring him more money, but we get to see how God works on him.

What a great read to get lost in, I for one really didn't want it to end!

Freedom's Song
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
WaterBrook & Multnomah
Rated: 3

Back of the Book: “Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. So, when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape—an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . .
Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn’t arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . .
After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat’s captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past—and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . .
Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom’s Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.”

My Thoughts: This story was heartwarming with light suspense because of Fanny’s past. The story was engaging and I enjoyed reading it however once completed I felt that Fanny’s experience with Enoch and his family was disconnected from the rest of the story. Meeting Enoch’s family could have become a whole different storyline and been just as interesting. I think that it gave Fanny transition to where she ended up but their friendships became so involved it felt strange letting them go on their way without knowledge of what became of them. Overall it was a good read for historical Christian romance readers.

Inspiring Thoughts: “‘Don’t feel shame for not knowin’ somethin’ you ain’t been taught. The shame belongs to them who kept you from learnin’ it.’”
“Pa always preached that everything befalling a person upon whom God looked with favor was either ordained by Him or could be used by Him.”

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review shared here.

If you enjoy “Love Comes Softly,” then you’ll probably enjoy “Freedom’s Song.” This book is almost divided in two parts: the first part of Fanny’s escape and journey up north with new friends, the second part Fanny and Walter (and strong “Love Comes Softly” vibes).

This was a sweet story and enjoyable read. It was slightly anti-climatical and I don’t feel that Slade’s story fully wrapped up and was satisfactory, but I realize that’s my opinion. It didn’t spoil the book for me.

As with Kim Vogel Sawyer’s other books, this one is solid with the spiritual message and balanced with romance. I don’t recall anything that would prevent me from recommending this to older teens.

*I received this from NetGalley and happily provided my honest review*

Pazzy’s freedom song – “we’ll find the place which God for us prepared…..All is well! All is well!” was the stalwart resonance which gave Fanny hope during her adventures after finding herself forced overboard from the River Peacock. Raised in servitude as the ship’s entertaining singer, Fanny’s story is engaging, heart-rendering, as well as heart-warming. I adored the precious characters who passed through Fanny’s life, and absolutely fell in love with baby Annaliese.

Freedom’s Song is a story of freedom – from the bondage of slavery, servitude, and reliability on self. This is a book you will continue to ponder long after the last page.

I received a copy of this book from WaterBrook Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review.

1860 Missouri, Iowa, Illinois & Indiana

Fanny Beck lives out nearly seven years as an indentured servant aboard a riverboat, River Peacock, to pay for her family's passage from Europe. Seven years! She's locked in a room when not performing and has no friends. Fanny is incredibly unhappy but her faith in the Lord grows during these years and she clings to the hope that her freedom is not far off.

Riverboat captain Sloane shows how some immigrants were taken advantage of. Fanny's father actually signed an "X" to a contract for seven years for each family member or a total of 35 years. When Fanny has the opportunity to escape, she takes it.

Her journey by foot, wagon and train across states was a heart warming and sometimes tense journey as she looked to put as much distance as possible from the riverboat. What I enjoyed most about this novel was the time spent with a family during part of her journey, the details about life on the prairie and God's provision throughout.

I didn't find some of Sloane's actions to be plausible, but it wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

Another faith filled, heart warming novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

I didn’t expect to like this one so much, but wow! I had trouble putting it down. I found the whole premise of the story intriguing—the connection between a singer held against her will on a steamboat and a widower in search of a new wife—and it had just enough romance and a tiny bit of suspense that made it a really fun read. Recommended.

Freedom’s Song, by Kim Vogel Sawyer, tells the tale of Fanny Beck, an indentured servant looking for a path that will take her back to both her family and her freedom!

After singing on a boat heading down the Mississippi River, for seven long years, she suddenly finds her opportunity to escape. Fanny soon crosses paths with Enoch and his family of former slaves. They are also looking for their own path to freedom. You feel a sense of relief when Enoch and his family are finally able to head north toward a place of safety!

Fanny, still on her own journey, is delayed when she comes across an abandoned child. You will not believe what blessings this latest delay will bring to Fanny’s life!

When Fanny has reaches another fork in the road, she must decide. Will she make a home with this new family or keep moving toward her own family?

You will learn the answer to this question by the final pages of this tale!

Freedom’s Song by gifted author Kim Vogel Sawyer is a pure delight. It is a Christian historical romance that caught my attention quickly. I was turning page after page to see what would happen next. Filled with twists, surprises, Biblical messages, and an array of colorful characters, this is one of the best books I had read this year.

Set in 1860 in the Midwest, it is the story of indentured servant, Fanny. A dubious riverboat captain has added more years than Fanny and her family agreed to in their arrangement. She is kept like a caged songbird on the boat and made to perform. Tragedy strikes and Fanny finds herself onshore away from her prison. The people she meets make unique and intriguing adventures and subplots.

Author Sawyer has written a touching story that contains many life and spiritual lessons. My emotions were all over the place as Fanny experienced trials, setbacks, and joys. It played like a movie in my mind as I read it, and I hope one day to really watch it. This novel is more than entertaining. It is God glorifying.

I highly recommend it. There are discussion questions at the end which would make it perfect for a book club or small group selection. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from this reader. I received a copy on NetGalley, but these are my honest words.