Every Life Has a Soundtrack.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight-forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.

Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.

Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

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Both entertaining and enlightening Matthew shares his thoughts throughout this book about growing up in a church that had its finger on the pulse of what they felt should and should not be listened to and considered appropriate Christian music.

Lighthearted and laying it all on the table I laughed through sections on this book on his love of Amy Grant and a particular song that spoke to him, Lead Me On, which Matthew describes as a song that made him want to change.

Good music changes me, shocks me, makes me feel uncomfortable, and drives me to think and hope differently.  And once in  a while, it makes me cynical and sarcastic.

Matthew Paul Turner uses this book to share stories of his past and experiences with Christian music that wasn’t always considered acceptable in the/his church. There are full chapters of this book that I would love to just copy and paste here to give you samples of what a true treat this book is.  Instead, I am going to ask you to take my word for it.  This book spoke to me from growing up in  what I would call a traditional church to where I am now where we play all the modern Christian songs you are hearing on the radio.   Pretty much the music that is played in my church today would cause my old church I grew up in much stress.  Unnecessary of course.

This is a book that I plan to go through again as I read it quickly and have decided that I would like to go back and spend a little more time in this witty read that I feel would appeal to most readers and certainly those who have a love for music!

Listen to the 10 minute interview by clicking here!

My Amazon Rating

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah

I read this at home in the comfy chair of the reading room!

Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the façade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah’s face about her reliance on alcohol to avoid dealing with her life, Leah must make an agonizing choice. Seek help against her husband’s wishes? Or—put herself first for once? Joy and sadness converge and unwelcome insights intrude, testing Leah’s commitment to sobriety, her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.

I have been excited about this book since I first seen the cover and read the subject. Not that alcoholism is a fascinating topic, but that it is coming from a new author who is hitting on a tough subject – and a tough subject from a Christian perspective.

I like my books to be a bit of the good (but not too good), the bad and the ugly.  That makes them real.  Real issues, real life… not sugar coated.  And this is what Walking On Broken Glass is about.

This book to me read – real.  Friends who can see the changes in behavior in Leah and a husband who is too close and thinks his wife does not have a problem and people are just over reacting.  Author Christa Allen gives Leah a likable voice.  The flashbacks give us the bigger picture into what is really happening behind the scenes.

Well written, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.

My Amazon Rating

I received my review copy from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

“Did anyone ask where you were this afternoon?” Sol asked her.

“No,” Carrie answered, still smiling. “Dad and Eli were so excited about purchasing the orchards that it was all anyone was talking about.”

“Surprised me to see Andy with you. Think that was wise?”

“Aw, it was a birthday present for him. He won’t tell.” Carrie was quiet for a moment. “I won’t be here for his actual birthday.” Her heart caught for a moment.

Sol didn’t seem to notice the quiver in her voice. “So we’ll tell our folks Sunday afternoon, just like we talked about. On Monday, I’ll be on the team bus to Long Island, but you can follow on a Greyhound as soon as you can. I thought we could get married in New York, the day you arrive. How does that sound?”

Carrie didn’t answer right away. She glanced back at the big white farmhouse. The moonlight shone behind it, casting a bluish hue over it. The night was so quiet and peaceful, the barn and the house filled with sleeping people and animals. An owl hooted once, then twice.

Then her eyes caught on a shadowy figure and she gasped. Daniel Miller was sitting on the fence across from the phone shanty, watching her.

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I have really taken a liking to the books I have read over this past year involving the Amish Community. Carrie is a wonderfully strong main character that I took a liking to immediately. The Lancaster County Amish setting was well thought through and author Suzanne Woods Fisher does not disappoint when it comes to details.  I felt I really took away a deeper knowledge of the Amish through my reading of this book.

This book was one that once picked up did not get put down until I turned that last page.  There are several deaths early in the book but it only contributes to strength of the characters.  With such a strong character drive, Suzanne Woods Fisher drives us right through an incredible journey of faith and truth.  And author Suzanne knows what she is talking about having lived in a world between English and Amish all her life with many relatives living the Amish life.

I really enjoyed this read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suzanne Woods Fisher’s interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Dunkard Brethren Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity TodayToday’s Christian Woman, Worldwide Challenge, ParentLife, Christian Parenting Today, and Marriage Partnership. She has contributed to several nonfiction books and is the author of  Amish Peace and two novels. Fisher resides in Alamo, California.

*See you on February 15th for Suzanne’s Author Talk and Book Bomb! Fun. (Buy the book on Feb. 15th, submit your receipt to amy@litfusegroup.com and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com! Details here!)

My Amazon Review

I received my review copy from LitFuse Publicity