Customer Reviews

Sweet Accord (Love Inspired #197)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have enjoyed Sweet Accord as well as Testimony. It gives the understanding of how God would like "all" relationships to be. And reveals the struggles "humans" go through to become perfect. We are never going to be perfect in this world, we are working towards that perfection with the help of God's grace and mercy. Even though some may feel Ms. Mason and others are being hypocrites by writing about both spiritual and worldly situations, the fact of the matter is they both exist. I believe writers have the talent to bring light to what is happening in the world. With the conclusion that there is always hope. I don't feel disappointed in a writer unless the story has no direction. I applaud Ms. Mason and other writers for being couragous enough to be honest. As a Christian now for many, many years, I have learned you can't understand someone unless you look beyond the surface. How can you help if you can't understand their situation and stuggles. Sweet Accord and Testimony both have many good examples of that. I feel Sweet Accord was beautifully written. This will definitely be one to share.

This book is very well written, but it feels very cliched. The town that the main characters live in is so out of the ordinary. They live in a small town where most people get along with others, remember Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show? That's how this town is.

On some levels its hard to relate to the characters, I think that this book is geared towards those raised in the church. If you weren't raised like that, & didn't have a story book life, this might not be appealing.

Although I liked reading it, well...I wished that the book was more contemporary. On the plus side, the book is well written, fun, and sentimental.

The church I used to be a member of was facing the same struggles as this one. I wish the ending had been as well, but it wasn't. The church split two or three times over the issues of change, etc. It's a nasty subject, and one I'm afraid we'll always have to struggle with. I could relate so well, and when Matt explained the reason things in church change, I wanted to engrave his dialogue and hang it on my wall! never had I heard such a keen explanation on that issue!!!

This was a sweet story. The author (I understand has a more secular market of books than inspirational) seemed to really be in touch with the issues in church and Christianity. I enjoyed listening to Matt witness to the teenage girl. I enjoyed his bringing fresh music into the church. I even enjoyed the fact that he wore an earring and rode a motorcycle.

I did NOT think Haley's reaction was necessary when she learned the truth. She was the one who said that she wanted stuff left in the past. Though it may have been best to be honest in the first place, Matt DID tell the preacher about his past. And he DID give his real name. We don't always want to tell about hurtful things from our past.

I also think she resolved her conflict about him way too fast. I think it should have taken her MONTHS to have regained the trust, and in the meantime, she would have had to confront her issues. I feel Matt's were resolved, but I don't believe Haley's ever were. Because of her past, she will always struggle with change and acceptance, and that wasn't mentioned here. It was like one minute there was all this conflict, then POOF! It was gone...

But there were so many great parts in this book! I already mentioned my favorite part. I looved Matt! Haley had issues, and I didn't care too strongly for her...I'm glad they got married and all, because Haley needed someone strong like Matt, but I feel sorry for Matt having to marry so much baggage...

Finally an inspirational romance that does not use stereotypical romance characters. I felt I could connect more with believable characters. I liked the Mayberry-type town feel. A refreshing Christian romance read. I will look for more by this author.

Haley Cartwright is a long-term, dedicated member of the Christian Community Church. She loves the traditional music of the services. Though others seem to want to move to modern praise music, Haley believes no musical changes are necessary. Having recognized the need for change and revitalization, the Pastor moves forward in the hiring of a new Musical Director who will revamp the worship service.

Former music star Matt Brandon has had enough of chasing fame and fortune. He has escaped to small town Oregon to enjoy a quieter life and to get back to his first true love which is simply making beautiful contemporary music. Matt has lots of ideas about what he'd like to do with the new order of the music service - until he meets a solid brick wall of resistance in Haley.

Seeing the sparks that are bouncing between them both in their conflicting musical views and their mutual attraction, the pastor assigns them to strike a musical balance for the church by working together on the revamped music for worship service. Soon, both Haley and Matt are wondering if they will be able to get over their differences for the sake of the congregation.

Matt is also wondering if he can get Haley to act upon their obvious mutual attraction.

This was a nice Christian romance with quaint touches and a strong chemistry between the lead characters.

Felicia Mason combines romance and Christianity in her novel, SWEET ACCORD. Mason introduces the reader to Haley Cartwright, a dedicated and influential member of Community Christian Church who is extremely conservative and is resistant to change. We also meet Matt Brandon who has just been hired as the new musical director of the church. Matt is almost the polar opposite of Haley. They immediately clash on their views of music in the church. To remedy their conflict, they are assigned to work together on a compromise so that all parties are happy. What ensues is more than either of them could have ever imagined.

SWEET ACCORD blends love and romance effortlessly. It shows a love of God and also love for our fellow human beings. The characters were well developed but in my opinion they seemed a bit too perfect and almost a cliché. Nonetheless, Felicia Mason has written a novel that both inspires and warms the heart.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I really liked this book, so the title was corny and the plot followed a formula but it was a very well written book. The only thing that I'm disappointed at is that it confirms my suspicions about this certain publisher.

The Steeple Hill Love Inspired books are a line of inspirational romances from the ... romance publisher Harlequin. And the book business is a business, but I felt disappointed that this particular author also writes ... romance novels herself.

Look her up in amazon and her web page even lists ... romance novel. I live in a big city, and am a new Christian but I don't want to support some publisher that's out to take advantage of Christians money, and especially some author that writes racy novels.