Thanks to Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

If you like southern fiction with Christian values, sweet tea, and themes of family and restoration, this is the book for you. Recently divorced and grieving her newly deceased mother, Rae Sutton brings her teenage daughter Molly Margaret back to live in the house where Rae grew up, in the small town of Whitten, Alabama.

Rae’s passion is finding and restoring old furniture, as well as renovating and redecorating houses, and her mother’s house is ripe for change. Before she passed, Rae’s mom Margie wrote several encouraging letters for Rae, placed strategically throughout the house and shed. She knew Rae would need support as she grieved not only her mama, but also mourned the loss of her marriage.

Rae is continuously reminded by many of the book’s characters that we are never too old for restoration. “Mama had talked about this in the letter she left for me in the shed. She talked about restoration and making old things new. It sounded cliché, but my heart was like that old armoire or the furniture I found at the junk store or on the side of the road. Beaten and battered. Bruised and dented. Worse for the wear. I was mourning the loss of my dear mother, and my husband. And some days I didn’t know how I’d get out of the bed. I didn’t know if my heart, my mind, would ever be restored.”

In an additional plot point, fifteen-year-old Molly soon joins her new high school’s basketball team, and when the coach meets Rae, there is mutual attraction. Is Rae ready for a new romance?

She finds herself joining in her mama’s “ministry,” a group of older women who meet monthly for lunch, prayer, and gossip. Mrs. Fannie, Mrs. Dora, and Aunt Maxine provide Rae with love and affirmation. They are mother figures who counsel her and pour their wisdom into her, the same way her own mother had done.

Christian faith and supportive encouragement help Rae to learn throughout the novel. As she heals from her broken marriage as well as the loss of her mama, she is continually reminded by friends and family: “You have a gift of making old things new. You have the gift of restoration. That fit was evident after your divorce, too. You restored your life when it was so broken and made things new for you and Molly.”

3 1/2 stars rounded up.

Raeley Sutton's mother has just passed and left her the house she grew up in. It's in a town she vowed to leave and never return to, but after her divorce it seems like a blessing in disguise. When she is welcomed into her mother's circle of friends, her view of life changes and she begins to see where her blessings truly are.

This was just a sweet, heartwarming read. I loved the Southern charm of all the characters and how clean the story was. I would definitely go back and read more of this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF - Having reached the 46% mark I realized there was little drawing me forward to continue reading this book. Rae reads as a totally lost cause who sometimes reacts like a teenager & other times as the 36-year-old adult that she is. I found it hard to look past her subjecting her daughter to her whims (i.e. dating her coach & constantly asking him on dates in her daughter's company). She boasts of being a thoughtful parent but, truly there appeared to be little thought given to how your teenage child would feel or react to you randomly dating someone she is meant to view as an authority figure at school. As well, Rae goes on about never speaking ill of Carter to Molly but then harasses Autumn repeatedly while in her presence. I understand that the setting was not the time nor the place to bring the woman with whom you had been pursuing an extramarital affair, to meet all this family but, Molly still deserves to not have to worry about her mom going off the rails because she can't prevent herself from verbally bemoaning another person in front of her child.

There are structural errors which, as the book is now published, I hope have been fixed. The switch between 'mama' & 'mother' was staggering given this changes the tone. As well, the author interchanges Alzheimer's & Dementia, whereas these are not one and the same.

Overall,, this appeared to be an easy read but there was too much I couldn't get behind. An example of this is that we are meant to think that the aunts degrading a woman for being promiscuous is a cute quirk -- it's not. Rae even has a full conversation about high morals & that she wouldn't simply have sex with Kent because she's not like the girl they describe as 'loose as a goose'. I appreciate that this is a heavily Christian read but, this is 2022, this is an incredibly dated mentality.

I'm sure many people will find much to love & appreciate in this book but, I was not the target audience.

I really enjoyed this book. It actually made me laugh out loud at least three times, that doesn’t happen too often, even when a book is supposed to be funny.

But between the giggles this book deals with some series issues. I was so torn about how I wanted it to turn out, which made it even better.

I do think the author did a great job of making it turn out the way it should but it was hard to make up my mind, as it was for Rae.

I can’t neglect to mention the cast of characters Susannah developed. Those older ladies made me want to have a group of women like in my life.

Overall, a very good book and I do recommend it.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This wasn't what I was expecting. The story was cute but I didn’t realize it was Christian fiction, and it got a little overly preachy several times. I have nothing against the genre, but I just wasn’t prepared for the proselytizing! Not my favourite.

Very good, contemporary Christian fiction. I'll definate.y be adding it to our Christian fiction recommendation list..

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton portrays women who live simple lives filled with love, compassion, and forgiveness. Uplifting and real.

As a fan of Susannah Lewis and her blogs and books, I was so excited to find "Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton." It was everything I hoped for from this southern jewel! It's a perfect beach read--or an escape from the violence and uncertainty of today's world.
Rae Sutton is faced with moving into her childhood home after her mom passes away. It's not an easy choice since it calls for even more upheaval for her and her preteen daughter. Even tough southern women can be knocked down by divorce, death, and indecision.
What Lewis brings to readers is a combination of sassiness, fragility, and growth. Her mom's circle of not-so-sweet elderly friends, along with Rae's brother, remind the protagonist that you shouldn't feel alone when you're surrounded by love--and its many forms. It's a message of positivity and personal independence mixed with a dash of sass and southern charm.

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton has skyrocketed to the top of my 2022 reading list. I love Southern fiction and this is the best of the best. In my opinion Southern fiction has to be character driven and this book is full of characters!

My favorites were the women that surround Raeley Ann. They are priceless. They are at times ridiculous and at other times wise sages. We all need women like them in our lives. The story itself had me laughing one moment and tearing up the next. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

Look, this is going to sound awful....but I can not with this book. I am thoroughly depressed. I guess from the cover (yes, I know that is a rookie mistake) and the title, I thought it would be more lighthearted. It's not. I am putting it down at 20%.

I think this could work for other readers....it is just not working for me.

I started reading Bless Your Hear, Rae Sutton two months before finishing it. I put it aside and then picked it back up while on vacation and couldn't wait to finish it. The beginning moved slowly for me until Raelyn Sutton starts to put her life back together again after her divorce and her mom's death.
Rae Sutton moves back to her small hometown after her husband leaves her for another woman and she inherits her mother's house. She is devastated to have lost the love of her life and works on learning to be a single mom. Her mother's friends take her in as their own and help her in her grieving period and how to live and love again. Rae relearns who she is and what she is capable of, all of which she wouldn't have done without the divorce or her elderly friends.
I recommend this Christian women lit book as a reminder to have hope in life and to as a reminder to reach out to those around us and give them hope and help them to learn to grow again!
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

I don't usually read contemporary women's fiction, but I'm glad I took a chance on Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton. This was also my first time reading anything by Susannah B. Lewis, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! II'll be sure to look for more of her work in the future.

Rae Sutton is still reeling from a sudden divorce when she's hit once again--this time with the loss of her mother. Comments her "Mama" made shortly before her passing alongside letters from Mama, and discussions with family friends lead Rae and her teenage daughter, Molly, back to Rae's childhood home. Between motherhood, renovations, starting a new business, and monthly meetings with Mama's old friends, Rae is swamped and still struggling to deal with her losses. When Molly's new coach, Kent, enters the picture, Rae quickly finds room in her heart for him, but still finds herself longing for Carter, her now ex-husband. How will she decide what (and who) is right for her and Molly?

This novel is very well written and engaging. The characters were relatable and faced realistic struggles. I found myself completely engrossed in Rae's life, and laughed and cried along with the characters. The ending definitely threw me for a loop--I didn't see that coming for some reason!

If you enjoy faith-filled contemporary fiction, you'll want to check this one out.

*I received a complimentary copy of Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton is the perfect book to enjoy on a summer afternoon, on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea! It's full of southern charm, humor, and heart. The delightful characters will find their way straight to your heart, from Rae and her daughter to the Third Thursday ladies who become Rae's stand-in mother figures. They add both lighthearted and heartfelt moments, and give the story richness and depth. I loved the way Rae's faith grew so authentically - it felt natural and not preachy or cheesy. The themes of restoration and redemption hit just the right notes! I would recommend this book to fans of authors like Lauren K. Denton, and I can't wait to read what Ms. Lewis writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I stumbled across this book on NetGalley and thought it looked interesting and figured I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this story. It is full of heart and humor and was a fantastic read/listen. I loved pretty much everything about this story and will be looking to purchase a hard copy for my keeper shelf so I can enjoy it again and again.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Deep South set and full of southern charm this book has it all. I loved the main characters in this book. They were written like old friends and came across just as sweet. Definitely a great beach read for this summer.

I must admit that this book was a really hard one for me to read. To be clear though, this had absolutely nothing to do with the book itself. Sadly, I have lost several family members recently, and I found as I started to read, reading about Rae's grief over her mother wasn't good timing for me. As such, I really struggled to get into this story.

That being said, I do believe I would enjoy this one a lot if I were to read it at a different time. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing. She really used a lot of great descriptions that helped me to really get a good idea of who Rae was. It was easy to follow and just had an overall good flow to the story. This was my first time reading anything by this author, but it definitely has me looking forward to reading more.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This is not my usual genre to read. I had a hard time with the main character and how the story ended. I thought she needed more backbone and I felt that the ex-husband was not likeable.

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton
by: Susannah B. Lewis
Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson
pub date: May 24, 2022
genre: General Fiction (Adult)

Comfort can be found in small Southern towns. Upon losing her mother, main character Rae immersed herself in the warmth of a return to her hometown community of Whitten, Alabama. As she also deals with the end of her marriage, Rae navigates new beginnings in career and romance as she explores faith and forgiveness.

Rae's formation of multigenerational female friendship with her mother's buddies was one of my favorite parts of this book. Their wit, wisdom, and traditions helped Rae in her period of transition.

Even though the theme of overcoming loss was prominent in the book, Author Lewis had me frequently laughing out loud with her sprinkles of Southern humor. Settings of front porches, church pews, and high school gyms brought back my own fond memories of growing up and living in small Georgia towns. The tastes and smells of Little Debbie cakes, fresh tomatoes, purple hull peas, and chicken salad were so familiar to me. Although I might have preferred Rae to make some different decisions, the choices were hers to make in the story of her life. I enjoy Christian fiction and small town Southern settings. The warmth, optimism, and hope offered by this book were uplifting to me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

Let me just say this right up front: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!

I’ve read Susannah B. Lewis’s non-fiction before (How May I Offend You Today? and Can’t Make This Stuff Up are both hilarious and thought-provoking and must-reads in my book), but this is the first of her fictions works that I’ve read. I’ve got to go back and read some of her other fiction books now.

Raeley Ann Sutton, or Rae, has a lot on her plate. Her ex-husband, Carter, divorced her for some pretty young thing (although Rae never had the heart to tell her mama why Carter really left), and now her mama has passed away and left her the small house she grew up in. Is moving back to Whitten, Alabama really the right thing?

Lewis tells her story with her trademark Southern wit and wisdom, and that just brings me right back to my childhood. When talking about the meal after the funeral, Aunt Maxine tells Rae, “Dora is bringing chicken. Lena will bring a dessert. She’ll pass it off in her own Tupperware, but it will be storebought. The woman can’t boil water. Bless her heart.” How many of us who grew up in the South haven’t heard something along those lines?

Rae’s story may not be exactly like mine or yours, but it rings true for all of us. How many of us have been left gobsmacked by life’s disappointments, wondering if anyone got the license plate of the truck that just hit us? How many of us have felt like hope is distant and God surely must have given up listening to our prayers, because we can’t see a thing that He’s doing to improve the situation? Rae struggles to find the faith she grew up in, and the Third Thursday ladies and their “ministry” (where, “for an hour each month, they laughed, gossiped, reminisced about days gone by, and solved all the problems in Whitten, Alabama”) point her in the right direction. She hears their stories of their own struggles, she sees their hearts for helping others as they have the ability to do so, and she realizes that she can’t – and doesn’t have to – carry her hurt on her own. As Rae says, “Iron sharpens iron, and they had certainly sharpened me.”

And this particular quote, from a letter that Rae’s mother left for her to find, really struck me: “Appreciate the good and even the bad, Rae. Cherish the valley, because that is where you find the strength to reach the mountaintop.” What a wonderful reminder for Rae from her mama, and what a wonderful truth for me to hang onto, tucked away into a really good book.

This book is a delight. I’d like to have my own group of Third Thursday ladies now. If you love a wonderfully told story set in a small Southern town, filled with characters you feel like you know (or might be kin to), brimming with love and faith and redemption, you need to read Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton. Don’t wait. Go get it now, and enjoy. You can thank me later.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the gifted book!

Rae Sutton is in a tough spot. Her momma just died and her husband just told her he no longer wants to be married. How is she supposed to navigate life without those two people as pillars? Well, the Third Thursday Ladies, a group of her mother's friends who are twice her age invite her into their inner circle and help her realize that she's not as alone as she once thought. I thought this was going to be a romance book and while there is some romance in it, this book was much more about Rae learning who she is and her place in the world. I really enjoyed the book and the authentic small town Southern feel.

Content warnings for parental death, Alzheimer's, and infidelity

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.