Customer Reviews

Angel Song

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With characters so real they almost fly off the pages and with such a moving storyline, Angel Song really drew me in and captured my attention. Ann Fletcher suffers through a horrible tragedy right at the very beginning of the novel, and from then on Ann's life changes forever. She shares a special bond with Keith, a boy with Down Syndrome, and it's what they can both hear that follows Ann throughout the whole book.

Walsh and Cushman do such a wonderful job of bringing Ann to life. From her job and all the dilemmas it created, to her uncertain feelings about her hometown, Ann is someone the reader can sympathize with. Her questions and fears are authentic, and I truly appreciate that. I also appreciate the various secondary characters who add another layer to the story, including a romantic element that I quite enjoyed.

The book was well-written, but I wished that the focus would have been more on God rather than His angels. Based off of the title alone, it's obvious that angels play a big role in the story, which isn't bad at all. I just would have liked it to be a bit clearer on where the power and the comfort really comes from--the Lord.
Overall, though, this book did a great job of affecting my emotions (especially at the end) and warming my heart.

*With thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

~ Also, I must say that I found it interesting that the back cover spells the protagonist's name as "Anne," but throughout the book her name is either "Ann" or "Annie"--not "Anne." Just an observation! ~

ANGEL SONG BY SHEILA WALSH & KATHRYN CUSHMAN IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS THE STORY OF A WOMAN GOING ABOUT HER LIFE BUT AVOIDING THE MEANING OF IT. SHE HAS NO REAL CONNECTION TO HERSELF AND THIS IS WHERE WE MET UP WITH HER. HER LITTLE SISTER IS ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH A RATHER LARGE FEAT AND ANNE, OUR CHARACTER, IS ABOUT TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH HER. SADLY AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH ALL OF IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN HER WAY. WHICH IS MORE OF AN AVOIDANCE. SHE DOES, HOWEVER, GET THE HELP OF SOME OF THE AMAZING TOWNS PEOPLE. SOMETHING SHE IS NOT USED TO.

THIS MAKES HER HAVE TO COME OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE AND HANDLE THESE NEW RELATIONSHIPS. MAKING FOR A BELIEVABLE STORY LINE AND RELATABLE CHARACTERS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ANNE NEEDS AT THIS POINT IN HER LIFE, SOME STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE STRONG BELIEFS IN GOD. ALONG THE WAY SHE REALIZES THAT SOME SITUATIONS ARE BEST NOT EXPLORED AND OTHERS THAT MUST BE FURTHER VENTURED. THIS IS A MUST READ.

You know those books that keep you up late at night anxious to finish reading as tears stream down your face? Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman is one of those books. The novel tells the story of Ann Fletcher, a talented New York interior designer, who returns home to Charleston to see her younger sister Sarah receive her Master's Degree. Once there, Ann finds herself not in the seats of a graduation ceremony, but in the back of an ambulance as Sarah fights for her life. During the ride Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before. That melody continues to haunt Ann throughout the novel until she understands that it is the music of angels who have come to protect her. Reeling from the tragic loss of her sister, Ann does not know how to deal with the love and support that she begins to receive from her sister's friends who all seem to love and accept her immediately even though they hardly know her. Sarah and her friends are Christians, but Ann has a hard time accepting or believing in God. She figured that if Christians still suffered pain and tragic accidents, that was proof God didn't exist because you'd think God would at least help those who worshiped him. When a 12 year old neighbor boy with down syndrome begins drawing pictures of her with angels, she can't help but be curious, and she delves into research about angels on the internet.

To complicate matters even further, Ann is dealing with the stress of her job and a difficult new client who may have romantic intentions toward Ann, while Ann finds herself more and more drawn towards a childhood friend who helps fix up her family home in Charleston to sell.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will too!

I was so excited when I got the opportunity to review this book!! I love Sheila Walsh and have read many of her spiritual growth books, so imagine my JOY when I saw this book. I was not disappointed. These authors did a great job.

Everyone has lost a loved one and everyone has questioned why God has allowed such things to happen. What really matters is what we, the survivors, do in those situations. In this story Annie doesn't trust God, or even believe in Him, due to so much pain in her past. She doesn't believe the song she is hearing could be coming from Angel's. She doesn't want any relationships especially one with a sweet little boy with Downs Syndrome who claims to hear the Angels too. She builds walls around herself for protection and doesn't realize it is those walls that are ruining her life, hurting her way more than protecting her.

I loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Christian Fiction, anyone who has lost loved ones, anyone who has ever felt pain and the need to build walls and protect themselves from people and relationships.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and the Booksneeze program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Angel Song by Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman was truly an amazing story of pain, hurt, tragedy and finding love through God.

I couldn't put it down!

When Annie Fletcher returns to Charleston to see her younger sister, Sarah, receive her master's degree, she finds herself riding in the back of an ambulance, watching helplessly as Sarah fights for life. During the ride, Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before.

Neighbor Ethan McKinney lends a shoulder when Sarah unexpectedly dies. And as a carpenter, Ethan volunteers to help Annie get the Fletcher family home into shape for selling. Ethan's presence is distracting, but what troubles Annie is her neighbor Tammy's 12-year-old son. Keith has Down Syndrome and the guile to believe he can see and hear angels.

God begins to reveal Himself to Annie - both in her newfound friends and through heart-rending and clearly supernatural events. Annie discovers faith in God, finally experiencing the comfort that His angels really do surround us.

It pulled me in on the first page and I didn't put it down until I was finished with it just a few hours later! Following along with Annie throughout her journey with life, love and her feelings about God really resounded with me and made me think long and hard about my relationship with God. I have always believed but have sort of pulled back a bit in the last few years. Having also lost a loved one that was very close to me really also made me think...did he hear the angels? Is that why I still feel him (my father) around me? Or is it God who has warmed my heart, put his hand on my shoulder and made me feel peace? I recommend this book to any woman who wants to find a new belief in God or just a new way to see things through other's eyes. The angels are always there, don't ever forget that. He is always there as well. I give this book five stars! Pick it up and read it soon! I know you will all enjoy it as much as I did!

Angel Song. An evocative title. A wonderful book. Author Sheila Walsh is best known as one of the Women of Faith speakers, and an accomplished non-fiction author and musician. This is Sheila's first foray into fiction, and it is well worth the time it took to write and the time it takes to read! (Although I am not familiar with co-author Kathryn Cushman, I will be checking out her solo projects.) The storyline grabbed me from the prologue and didn't let go until the last page. And then left me wanting more!! The characters were captivating- I found myself relating to most of them at one time or another throughout the book. I heartily recommend this book, and sincerely hope Sheila is planning a sequel!

Ann Fletcher returns to her hometown in Charlestown to visit her younger sister, Sarah. While she is there, a car accident takes Sarah's life. As Ann stays in Charlestown, getting the old family home ready to sell, she gets to know a few of the neighbors. Keith, a boy with Down Syndrome insists that he can see and hear angels. He draws Ann pictures of angels watching out for her. And a handsome carpenter, Ethan offers to help Ann with some home improvement projects. They become very close, and there are hints that a romance may develop. But Ethan's strong Christian values can't let their relationship go any further than just friends, because Ann says that she doesn't believe in God. Now Ann must chose what path she will take, leave her horrible past behind and go back to her fast-paced life in New York, or open her heart to her new friends and trust God's perfect will for her.
I really enjoyed this book! The authors did a wonderful job describing the characters' feelings and struggles. I cried and laughed along with them! It was a little slow-going at times, but the over-all message was wonderful. Very uplifting!
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

I received this book from Booksneeze in exchange for a review. I was in no way required to rate it favorably.

When Booksneeze offered a novel by Sheila Walsh I couldn't wait! I have read all her other books and listen to her every year at the Woman of Faith conference. She is a captivating speaker and her writing did not let me down!

It is the story of Anne Flesher. Anne travels to her hometown of Charleston only to be greeted with tragedy. A loner, she meets friends, finds romance and is befriended by a Downs Syndrome neighbor who softens her hard heart.

It is a wonderful story of GOd's grace and forgiveness and you won't be able to put it down.

Angel Song is describes a woman's journey to find out her truths about herself and the world around her. Most of all, her world evokes emotion from their readers. With a lot of love and both faith and uncertainty, she finds herself exactly where God wanted her to be. The characters of the book bring to mind people in my own life that parallel the authors' story.

This book gave me a rebirth of compassion for others, my faithfulness and gratitude to my God, I felt moves to do good deeds and be of service to others. It only reaffirmed my faith and made it stronger. And the story was not difficult to follow for the most part. A partial reference to the a Bible story might lead one to review it from the source, but overall it was well written and a strong novel of spiritual survival. I did find the book hard to put down, because it grabbed all of my emotions in the first few chapters.
I would most definitely recommend this book to others just because it deals with real life on a spiritual plane. It is amazing what memories or feelings that the writing brought up in my own heart. This is a must-read.

Ann is living life in the fast lane as a designer in New York when she goes to her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina to be with her sister Sarah as she receives her master's degree. Celebration quickly turns to tragedy when Sarah is killed in a car accident. While riding to the hospital Sarah was humming a song that continued to haunt Ann long after Sarah is gone. She hears the song everywhere.

Ann is surrounded by helpful neighbors including Keith, a boy with Down Syndrome and Ethan, a carpenter. As Ann begins her new life without her sister, it is her new friendships that help her to see that there is a loving God who can help her heal.

Angel Song is a book with a unique premise that appealed to me right away. This story starts out strong and holds a good pace throughout. I enjoyed the Southern, hometown feeling created in this story with the warm and friendly neighbors and Ann's initial reluctance to their presence. This is a nice, relaxing story with a positive and uplifting message of hope and healing. I really enjoyed the writing team of Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman. One could say that Angel Song is a bit predictable, but I would say that it did not disappoint me. It ended the way I had hoped and the story was just what I was expecting. I am very pleased and delighted with this book and recommend it for anyone looking for a nice story.