What do you think?
Rate this book
Songbird #3
Love Lifted Me
Jade and Max share a deep love, though revelations from his past have recently shaken their marriage. And Jade is completely smitten with Max's little son, Asa, whom she is now raising as her own. Their blended family brings her a joy she's never known. But there is one more secret to be uncovered. One that will impact them all.
Max is doing his best to "man-up" and prove himself worthy of Jade's devotion. As well as that of his young son. It seems like life in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, will pick up where it left off until Max is faced with an unusual opportunity-leave his family's law firm to coach high-school football in Texas.
Realizing a fresh start will bring healing to their marriage, Jade takes the leap of faith and moves with him and baby Asa, bidding good-bye to her beloved Blue Umbrella shop.
The new beginning in quaint Colby, Texas, is soon sullied when Max discovers the high-school program isn't all it seemed. While Max struggles to rebuild a once glorious football team, Jade wrestles with news that could break Max's heart . . . and change their lives forever.
Max is doing his best to "man-up" and prove himself worthy of Jade's devotion. As well as that of his young son. It seems like life in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, will pick up where it left off until Max is faced with an unusual opportunity-leave his family's law firm to coach high-school football in Texas.
Realizing a fresh start will bring healing to their marriage, Jade takes the leap of faith and moves with him and baby Asa, bidding good-bye to her beloved Blue Umbrella shop.
The new beginning in quaint Colby, Texas, is soon sullied when Max discovers the high-school program isn't all it seemed. While Max struggles to rebuild a once glorious football team, Jade wrestles with news that could break Max's heart . . . and change their lives forever.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2012
About the author
Sara Evans
56 books123 followersSara Evans is an American multi-platinum country music recording artist and songwriter. She was named female vocalist of the year in 2006 by the Academy of Country Music and was once awarded video of the year from the Country Music Association. She and her three children live in Birmingham, Alabama with former pro quarterback-turned-sportscaster Jay Barker, whom she married in 2008.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
November 1, 2020
Life falls into place, husband finds his faith, becomes a better person, the baby from his one-night stand with his ex-fiancé isn’t his, but they fight to keep him. She gets pregnant with twins and carries to term and the football team wins. Life is good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2012
I really loved this book! I wanted to give it 5 stars but it was kinda slow in the beginning... Well in the very beginning it started off with a bang - I thought "Oh! Great, a scandal! I love a book that starts with a scandal!" then, sadly it got slow for a while. Half way through it picked back up. Funny enough - it started getting real good around football time! LOL
Anyone who knows me knows I love football (Go Steelers!). So once this book really started talking football I started loving it. Jade's husband Max takes a job coaching high school football, a loosing team with a long history of failure with head coaches. Something is not right with this team but Max can't quite put his finger on it.
Great character development! Of course I loved Jade (that's a given) but the two I really fell in love with are two of the minor characters - Brenda, their realtor and town busy body. I loved her, she was hilarious! and also fell in love with Tucker, the team's "star" kicker, or should I say not such a shining star - kicker. Great kid but not such a great kicker. Max thinks all he needs is some self confidence.
Then towards the end (last 1/4) the drama of the book starts to pick up. Oh! and dramatic it is! I was sobbing at the end! I was texting my daughter with quotes from the book, my face just covered with tears. She texted me back "Mom, stop! I can't be crying before I go to work!" and she didn't even read the whole book.
Sara did a great job of building the tension before the book climaxed! Great ending!
I do have to say though that if you hate football you might be kinda bored with at least 1/4 of this book. But if you are a football fan you'll love it! I need to read more books about football.
I have always been a huge fan of Sara Evans, the singer! I am now a huge fan of Sara Evans, the Author! This is a great, clean, Christian Fiction book. Beware this is the 3rd. book in a series - "The Songbird Series". The first 2 being - "The Sweet By and By" and "Softly and Tenderly". I loved all three.
Anyone who knows me knows I love football (Go Steelers!). So once this book really started talking football I started loving it. Jade's husband Max takes a job coaching high school football, a loosing team with a long history of failure with head coaches. Something is not right with this team but Max can't quite put his finger on it.
Great character development! Of course I loved Jade (that's a given) but the two I really fell in love with are two of the minor characters - Brenda, their realtor and town busy body. I loved her, she was hilarious! and also fell in love with Tucker, the team's "star" kicker, or should I say not such a shining star - kicker. Great kid but not such a great kicker. Max thinks all he needs is some self confidence.
Then towards the end (last 1/4) the drama of the book starts to pick up. Oh! and dramatic it is! I was sobbing at the end! I was texting my daughter with quotes from the book, my face just covered with tears. She texted me back "Mom, stop! I can't be crying before I go to work!" and she didn't even read the whole book.
Sara did a great job of building the tension before the book climaxed! Great ending!
I do have to say though that if you hate football you might be kinda bored with at least 1/4 of this book. But if you are a football fan you'll love it! I need to read more books about football.
I have always been a huge fan of Sara Evans, the singer! I am now a huge fan of Sara Evans, the Author! This is a great, clean, Christian Fiction book. Beware this is the 3rd. book in a series - "The Songbird Series". The first 2 being - "The Sweet By and By" and "Softly and Tenderly". I loved all three.
April 5, 2017
4.5 star
I really enjoyed this series. I would recommend reading them all in order since each book is a continuation from the previous book. This book, Love Lifted Me, was my favorite of the three. After all the sadness and drama that takes place in the first two books, it was beautiful to see how Jade and Max truly find love and happiness in their lives once they surrendered their burdens and fears over to Christ. Someday, i would like to re read the entire series.
I really enjoyed this series. I would recommend reading them all in order since each book is a continuation from the previous book. This book, Love Lifted Me, was my favorite of the three. After all the sadness and drama that takes place in the first two books, it was beautiful to see how Jade and Max truly find love and happiness in their lives once they surrendered their burdens and fears over to Christ. Someday, i would like to re read the entire series.
October 7, 2020
Excellent!
January 13, 2012
This is the third book in Sara Evans’ Songbird series. I previously reviewed book two Softly & Tenderly (you can read that review here) and this book picks up directly after the second one ends. Max and Jade are making an effort to move past the secrets and let go of the anger.
Max has taken his addiction in hand and attends an intensive rehab program in Texas. Through the help of people in the program he begins to come to terms with his dependency issues. Meanwhile, Jade has found salvation through raising Max’s illegitimate son, Asa. She let’s go of her anger and pain over her own failure to conceive and lets Asa fill her heart with love.
The story really begins with Max returning home and the two trying to figure out their relationship. Both have vowed to never keep secrets, recognizing that doing so can jeopardize their happiness. Max is given an opportunity to teach high school football, a pocket dream of his and Jade takes a leap of faith to follow her husband to Texas so they can both make a fresh start. She is also running away from a new secret that she is given information about but keeps from Max.
This book felt very authentic for how it portrayed a couple struggling to regain the trust that had been shattered between them by lies and deception. It recognizably took time for them to meet at a point where they could move forward in their lives and rebuild their tenuous relationship.
Max and Jade’s new home in Texas brings about its own set of problems and difficulties that threaten to pull the couple apart again and it is only through their love for one another and their faith that keeps them strong.
I really enjoyed Evans’ portrayals of the various citizens who lived in Colby, Texas. Each was drawn so vibrantly and individually that I had no difficulty picturing them. And as in her previous book, while it is clear that faith and trust in Jesus is a cornerstone part of the book I didn’t feel hit over the head with religious preaching.
This was a delightful conclusion to the characters story and best of all they had a very happy ending (which I won’t spoil :) )
Max has taken his addiction in hand and attends an intensive rehab program in Texas. Through the help of people in the program he begins to come to terms with his dependency issues. Meanwhile, Jade has found salvation through raising Max’s illegitimate son, Asa. She let’s go of her anger and pain over her own failure to conceive and lets Asa fill her heart with love.
The story really begins with Max returning home and the two trying to figure out their relationship. Both have vowed to never keep secrets, recognizing that doing so can jeopardize their happiness. Max is given an opportunity to teach high school football, a pocket dream of his and Jade takes a leap of faith to follow her husband to Texas so they can both make a fresh start. She is also running away from a new secret that she is given information about but keeps from Max.
This book felt very authentic for how it portrayed a couple struggling to regain the trust that had been shattered between them by lies and deception. It recognizably took time for them to meet at a point where they could move forward in their lives and rebuild their tenuous relationship.
Max and Jade’s new home in Texas brings about its own set of problems and difficulties that threaten to pull the couple apart again and it is only through their love for one another and their faith that keeps them strong.
I really enjoyed Evans’ portrayals of the various citizens who lived in Colby, Texas. Each was drawn so vibrantly and individually that I had no difficulty picturing them. And as in her previous book, while it is clear that faith and trust in Jesus is a cornerstone part of the book I didn’t feel hit over the head with religious preaching.
This was a delightful conclusion to the characters story and best of all they had a very happy ending (which I won’t spoil :) )
December 26, 2011
I wanted to like this book, and for the most part, I did. The story is a cute story about a couple who works on their rocky marriage. I loved how both the wife and husband had baggage, and grace and forgiveness were main themes of this book. Max, the recently recovered addict, leaves his lawyer career to pursue coaching football. His wife Jade goes with him, and learns to trust her husband again after his addiction and infidelity. There were moments that reminded me of the Friday Night Lights series (of which I am a huge fan) and though I am not a huge football fan, I couldn't help but root for Max's team to win some games. This book also reminded me somewhat of Jan Karon's Mitford series, with it's hometown feel and lovable characters.
The reason for the 3-star review is because there were two major plot climaxes in this book, and both of them were executed poorly. I would have like this novel more if they had simply been removed. What I mean is, right when the tension was the highest, the author sort of fades to black and you open the next chapter with everything resolved neatly without really knowing why the "bad guy" had a change of heart, or what compelled the person on the fence to act differently. This happened twice in the story! (I will explain more in my comment section so as not to spoil the book for anyone) There were many characters that I came to love in this book, and I did not have trouble remember who was who, which is always a good sign. I think that the author just did not do a very good job writing the two conflicted characters well, and right when the story became intense, the writing sort of stopped.
I don't regret reading this book, and I did think it was very cute. (I received this book from the booksneeze blogger program. The opinions are all mine) I just cannot give it a higher rating because of the holes in the storyline.
The reason for the 3-star review is because there were two major plot climaxes in this book, and both of them were executed poorly. I would have like this novel more if they had simply been removed. What I mean is, right when the tension was the highest, the author sort of fades to black and you open the next chapter with everything resolved neatly without really knowing why the "bad guy" had a change of heart, or what compelled the person on the fence to act differently. This happened twice in the story! (I will explain more in my comment section so as not to spoil the book for anyone) There were many characters that I came to love in this book, and I did not have trouble remember who was who, which is always a good sign. I think that the author just did not do a very good job writing the two conflicted characters well, and right when the story became intense, the writing sort of stopped.
I don't regret reading this book, and I did think it was very cute. (I received this book from the booksneeze blogger program. The opinions are all mine) I just cannot give it a higher rating because of the holes in the storyline.
June 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this whole series. Jade and Max are now very dear to my heart and feel like family. If you enjoy Christian fiction.... if you enjoy women's fiction.....if you enjoy happily ever after with a lot of drama then you will love this book. These are the first books I have read by Ms Hauck and her collaboration with Sara Evans was a winner. I highly recommend this series.
January 4, 2015
Excellent trilogy. Far beyond many other Christian books in helping the reader grow in Christ.
June 30, 2021
how redemptive this book is!!!
this inspires me to forgive, let the past go and invest in the lives of others for the sake of the kingdom. everything has an expiration date; enjoy the moments God gives; they won't last forever.
God puts people in our lives to be surrogate mothers and fathers; accept this as a gift from God.
be committed to Christ; things don't always work out the way we hope, but God is right there with us in the midst of the hard times.
when others come against you, use wisdom, pray for it and He will give it!
i never know who may turn around and be a close friend; it may be unlikely, but a blessing!!!
this inspires me to forgive, let the past go and invest in the lives of others for the sake of the kingdom. everything has an expiration date; enjoy the moments God gives; they won't last forever.
God puts people in our lives to be surrogate mothers and fathers; accept this as a gift from God.
be committed to Christ; things don't always work out the way we hope, but God is right there with us in the midst of the hard times.
when others come against you, use wisdom, pray for it and He will give it!
i never know who may turn around and be a close friend; it may be unlikely, but a blessing!!!
November 12, 2019
A troubled marriage with secrets popping up throughout. Both Jade and Max want to make it work. They are raising Max's son, Asa, but when Max has an offer to move to Texas to coach high school football, Jade balks. But they vow to give it a try. When Max comes up against many obstacles, he and Jade work together to help the boys become a team and an extended family. You know there are people working behind the scenes to trip Max up and get him fired, but the story keeps you reading and wondering how things will end.
They write some quirky and lovable characters.
A very good read.
They write some quirky and lovable characters.
A very good read.
March 26, 2023
This is the, I think, third time I’ve read this songbird series. I still adore it; I had forgotten some of the details but it is a charming and emotionally compelling journey for Max and Jade. I felt for them both at different points through the betrayals and triumphs. Faith and healing are central to this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pacing was just right and nothing felt rushed or forced. You learn the importance of having honesty and trust in a relationship, and not keeping the past in the past.
September 21, 2017
I really enjoyable series. Appreciated the tie up at the end. Of course I had a beef with Jade starting the book off muy pronto with a secret she was keeping from Max but it was all good in the end. Appreciated the character development and the underlying message that God can do so much more with us then we can do with ourselves.
November 20, 2021
This book is the last in the series and continues following Jade and Max Benson. In this book, they move to Colby, Texas. Max takes over the head football coach position. This book really shows how their relationship moves forward after his addiction issues. I did enjoy this book very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2023
Love love love
Max and Jade have come a long way. Their marriage is so inspiring and honestly a good model. I love the trust and redemption theme.
I love reading the step-mom trope. Max was willing to go above and beyond to prove himself to Jade and it was chefs kiss.
Max and Jade have come a long way. Their marriage is so inspiring and honestly a good model. I love the trust and redemption theme.
I love reading the step-mom trope. Max was willing to go above and beyond to prove himself to Jade and it was chefs kiss.
December 26, 2017
My favorite of the Songbird series.
July 10, 2017
Unexpected ending. Loved it all the same. Worth the read. There is a part towards the end that I know about from my time in Texas.
October 17, 2017
Good story but audio kept looping around. Story never ended ???
March 7, 2018
The final book of this Christian trilogy, and it was the best novel of the three, (see book one for review on the trilogy overall).
June 19, 2018
For sure the best of the series although I don’t think the storyline about Asa’s parentage needed to be part of the novel. Loved the football angle and the messages.
October 11, 2018
Love and football, doesn’t get any better than that.
November 19, 2018
Another home run by Rachel Hauck! This was such a wonderful series of forgiveness - I can't say enough about this wonderful series w/ Sara Evans. A definite favorite for me!!
September 27, 2019
Wonderful conclusion. I enjoyed the move to Texas and the high school football story.
January 20, 2020
Didn't care for this book so I stopped readingit
February 23, 2020
I read them out of order, but love this author, and love the story line.
February 24, 2020
Finished the Songbird trilogy by Sara Evans and Rachel
Hauck and it was wonderful. Love Christian fiction. I am only sorry that Sara isn't writing more of this.
Hauck and it was wonderful. Love Christian fiction. I am only sorry that Sara isn't writing more of this.
August 31, 2020
Nice surprise series.....third in Series.
March 7, 2021
Loved the story but it was drawn out. Loved their story of faith and learning to trust in God but it was a bit “goody goody”.
April 2, 2021
A sweet, happy, Christian love story.
December 31, 2020
So inspiring. Loved it
January 30, 2020
Such a breathtaking example of how surrendering to God's grace and walking in faith pays off in the end. The ebbs and flows of family, friends, and community make for a very good read! Very inspirational!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews