Twang

by Julie L. Cannon

Twenty-three-year-old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is destined to be a country music star.  When her passion, determination and homemade demo tape were rejected by every music label in Nashville, she refused to give up.  In just three years, a combination of guts and raw talent have propelled her on a journey of fame beyond her best dream.

Now Jennifer has all she ever wanted, only to discover that there is a dark side to the glitz and number one hits.  She will have to decide whether to sing her pain to a loving audience or find the courage to face the music in the private studio of her heart.

Genres: Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Christian

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Julie L. Cannon is the author of the award-winning Homegrown series, published by Simon & Schuster and described as ‘Southern-fried soul food.’ She switched from the ABA to the CBA, and her novel I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Summerside Press, Sept. ‘10, made the CBA Bestseller List as well as Nielsen’s Top 50 Inspirational Titles. Abingdon Press will release Twang in August 2012, and Scarlett Says in October 2013. When she isn’t busy tending her tomato patch, Julie can be found teaching memoir-writing workshops. She lives in Watkinsville, Georgia. Visit her website at www.julielcannon.com and connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/julieLcannon and on Twitter at JulieLCannon.

Reviews

[Ruth Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty typical Christian book with some things that set it apart from other books in the genre. Adding in the author's love of country music and following Jennifer as she rose from obscurity did make this somewhat intriguing at times. I also love country music, and the insight into this amazing industry often captured my imagination and made me think about the stories of some of the current country stars.

The gospel was presented in its entirety in this book, but sometimes it seemed a little forced or even out of place. I was glad to see the ending occurred as it did, but it was pretty predictable. There was nothing that really took me by surprise, and everything happened like you thought it would. That makes it a light-hearted, easy-to-read book.

It was good to have the inclusion of the Nashville floods from a couple years ago because that is something that time has forgotten. I am also pleased to report that there was no profanity nor sex scenes included--a nice, clean read. I did feel a couple loose ends were never tied up, but that happens in books now and then.

If you are looking for a feel-good book that appeals to country music fans, this would be a book to read. Nothing deep, but this is an unpretentious book that happens just as it should.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Julie L. Cannon
Published by: Abingdon Press
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA

Review:

"Twang" by Julie L. Cannon was a interesting fiction read of a twenty-three year old Jennifer Clodfelter who was from Blue Ridge, Georgia......who just knew she was to a a country music star...but what she found... was rejection even after all of her determination with her demo homemade tapes...still rejected by each and every music label in Nashville, Tennessee. However, even after all these rejections Jennifer would not give up and after three years it looked as if she was on a journey that would only lead her to the fame that she had wanted. Only was this really want Jennifer wanted?...now having all the fame and glitz and even the number one hits...what was up for her now? A decision would have to be made for Jennifer to "whether to sing her pain to a loving audience or find the courage and faith to face the music in the private studio of her heart." Now, this will be the time that you will have to pick up "Twang" to see what will happens to and for Ms. Jennifer Anne Clodfelter to be later known as Jenny Cloud. Honky Tonk Tomcat was Jenny's first single. "After 5 years, dozen of hit songs, two platinum albums and one particularly ugly romantic realationship".... was Jenny really happy?

The author did present a air of 'trusting in God and being able to forgive' was really the root of the story "Twang." I loved the frist person dialogue when the author was relating the Nashville floods that did have great affect of this storyline.

The characters which were well presented and seemed very real ..... Roy Durden (friend) Mike Flint (manager) and Tonilynn (hairdresser and friend), Bobby Lee, and Aint Gomer.

At first as I was reading through this novel I wasn't too sure I was going to enjoy "Twang" because it starts out a little slow but I am so glad that keep on reading because what I got from this novel left me in tears. Truly by the time I got to 'When the Music Calls Me Home' I was a goner! Now, I will stop here and only say please pick up this read... you will not be disappointed in the end.

This was a real heart felt read and if you are in for a good fiction read then I would recommend "Twang" for you.

[Brittani (Book_Byrd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This book follows the story of a young woman, Jenny Clodfelter, and how she becomes a country music star in Nashville. She battles with her past as she also struggles getting her grip on stardom.
I enjoyed reading this wholesome, warm-hearted, inspirational story. It reminded me of watching something on the Hallmark channel in it's storytelling. I could easily see a Christian film adaptation.
Unlike other Christian Fiction books I've read lately, this book has realistic Christian characters with flaws like anyone else, it also has realistic non-believer characters as well. My personal favorite was Jenny's hairdresser Tonilynn.
Overall, a good read, presents the Gospel well and tackles a few apologetics topics.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting perspective, quite different than most Christian fiction. However, the last one-third of the book had a lot of dialogue that seemed to repeat the same story over and over. It also skipped over a big part of Jennifer's path to stardom. It had a very small bit of romance and I would have enjoyed it if this had received more focus.

[Lacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book by this author. Didn’t know it was Christian fiction. Of course totally fine with that. It wasn’t preachy. Because it was set in Nashville and about country music I had high hopes. Wasn’t crazy about the main character—even though her background was tough, she came off as very whiny. Her journey from wannabe to Star was like one chapter so that felt forced.

[Susy Skidmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a feel-good type of story. I enjoyed Ms. Cannon’s “Home Grown” series of books so much, that I couldn’t wait to read this. However, this book is nothing like those. I was relieved when I finally finished it. The two best characters in the book were the hotel clerk and the beautician.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-three year old Georgia girl Jennifer Clodfelter knew she was destined to become a country music star. Leaving her troubled past behind, Jennifer heads off to Nashville to make her dreams come true. After struggling for three years, her hard work and determination finally pays off, and she becomes Music Row's next rising country music star named Jenny Cloud. But success comes with a price: her troubled past and buried secrets rise to the surface and starts to take its toll on her life and career. With the help and support of good friends, Jenny embarks on a journey to put her faith and troubles in God's hands, and learn that forgiveness is the key that will set her free.

Twang is a poignant story of a woman's journey to chase her dream of becoming a country music star while learning to let of go of the past and the importance of faith and forgiveness. This inspirational story is told in the first person narrative, with Jenny taking the readers along on her profoundly insightful journey. This story will captivate you and pull at your heartstrings, you can't help but feel for Jenny as she learns to put her faith and trust in God and to let go of the past, so that the beauty of redemption could set her free to enjoy her life and career. Rich in details and vivid descriptions, the reader is easily transported to Nashville's famous Music Row. You can just hear the ghosts of country music's past as you walk through the hallowed halls of some of Nashville's legendary landmarks. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the author's inclusion of Nashville's flood into the storyline, it simply gave me goosebumps as I remembered the devastation that came out of this event, and the people's unwavering faith while trying to make sense out of it all. As a country music fan, Twang was everything I had hoped it would be and then some, it left me wanting more.

The author has created a wonderful cast of characters who are realistic and down-to-earth people. She brings the characters to life through engaging dialogues and interactions with each other that captivates the reader's attention. I enjoyed following Jenny on her journey, I couldn't help but feel for this young woman as she struggled to let go of the past, her pain and anguish was palpable, I just wanted to hug her and cheer her on. The supporting cast of characters: kindred spirit Roy Durden; business manager Mike Flint; and hairdresser Tonilynn, were all engaging characters who added to Jenny's journey and made the story that much more of an engaging and compelling read.

Twang is an inspirational and deeply moving story of seeking love, faith, strength, forgiveness and redemption. This story will touch your heart, only through heartache and struggle can a good country song and story be told, it will resonate with your soul long after you have read the last words.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Rachelle Sperling · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the Book:

Twenty-three-year-old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is destined to be a country music star. When her passion, determination, and homemade demo tape were rejected by every music label in Nashville, she refused to give up. In just three years, a combination of guts and raw talent have propelled her on a journey of fame beyond her best dream.

Now Jennifer has all she ever wanted, only to discover that there is a dark side to the glitz and number one hits. She will have to decide whether to sing her pain to a loving audience or find the courage and faith to face the music in the private studio of her heart.

My Thoughts:

Twang was the kind of book that I both love and hate to read. It’s not light entertainment. It’s not a feel good story of hope (though it does have those happy ending elements). It’s a soul wrenching look into the reality of life apart from a genuine relationship with Christ; a life full of sadness, bitterness, evil and the futility of worshiping idols that can never bring hope or healing to life.

Trust in God is at the core of the story and while I, personally, wished the author had focused more on surrendering to the love of God and less on the idea of reconciling to God so that bad things could be re-framed and redeemed, the novel does a masterful job of illustrating how one woman’s gift of loving friendship overcomes barriers and breaks down walls so that another may go free.

I also appreciated the book's connection to the Nashville floods and the way it made the story more real, drawing my own memories of this event into the tale of a country singer struggling to make sense of God and the world.

The characters in Twang were real and engaging. And while I am not a fan of first person story telling, this book was well written. Overall, I'd recommend Twang to anyone who isn't afraid of a story that will tug at your heartstrings. If you are looking for a light read then this isn't the book for you.

Parents should also be aware that while tastefully written, this book does contain themes of abuse and sexuality that I would not recommend for young readers.

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I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie L. Cannon in her new book, “Twang” published by Abingdon Press brings us into the life of Jennifer Clodfelter.

From the back cover: A story about the therapeutic powers of friendship, faith and music.

Twenty‐three‐year‐old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is destined to be a country music star. When her passion, determination, and homemade demos were rejected by every music label in Nashville, she
refused to give up. In just three years, a combination of guts and raw talent have propelled her on a journey of fame beyond her wildest dreams.

Now Jennifer has all she ever wanted only to discover that there is a dark side to the glitz and number one hits. Now she will have to decide whether to sing her pain to a loving audience or find the courage and faith to face the music in the private studio of her heart.

Let’s face it we need others to support our dreams. Those individuals who have authority over us and raise us we look to tell us we can do what we want to do. Our souls are crushed when we are told we will never amount o anything and we are worthless. Jennifer believes otherwise. She feels that she is a singer and goes to Nashville to prove it. She succeeds. However there comes a moment when she learns that just because you are singing a song about pain doesn’t mean that it will go away. Jennifer has to learn that she needs God for that. This was an interesting book, filled with much truth and insight. I liked it.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts On This Book!

With the title of this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was it about something twangy tasting or what? Well I was pleasantly suprised to find out that it was about a country singer, one trying to start a career in country music. With her passion and determination, twenty-three-year-old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is destined to be a country music star, so she strikes out to Nashville and tries to jump right in, but as usual she has a few setbacks. Twang was her song, one she wrote and recorded, hoping Nashville would jump at it.

Though we don’t have any famous family members in the music industry, our family, and especially my dad’s side of the family has a pretty good musical background and it was handed down to some of the rest of us, making this an interesting and very fun read. I enjoyed following Jennifer on her journey, a journey that was difficult and lonely much of the time, but Jennifer did meet a number of people that helped her on her journey. Jennifer was a character that really captured my heart from the beginning. And as the story develops, I really found myself cheering her on, wanting her to succeed. Julie Cannon pens a wonderful story in “Twang.” A story well written, with well developed characters that played their part in the story well. And I especially appreciate the way Ms. Cannon weaves faith in God in the story, making this a story of love and redemption.

This is just a wonderful read, one any fiction lover would thoroughly enjoy. I strongly encourage you to grab a copy for your own enjoyment.

I rec’d this book from Abingdon Press through PUYB blog tours. I was not
expected to give a positive review, only an honest one. The opinions in this
review are mine only.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I have to say that Twang is definitely not my kind of book. I thought I was going to like it, but I didn't. The story is mostly told as someone reflecting on their past and that made it very hard for me to get into it; in fact, I was only able to for short snipets of time. I felt like an outsider throughout most of the story and that doesn't make for a very enjoyable read. However, I did think the way the chapters were divided was very cute (first verse, second verse , bridge, third verse , etc.).

The characters in this book were very one dimensional (at least to me) and so they were very boring. I think to like a story you have to connect with a minimum of one character, but I didn't connect with any of them.

The story was kind of depressing at times and that feeling didn't ever really leave. There were also some parts that went against my beliefs (e.g. the baptism scene) - this alone wasn't that big of a deal (it is fiction after all), but I didn't like it.

I personally didn't like all the referencing to Taylor Swift. I love her music and all, but it felt like she was the only female country singer that the book thought was successful - which isn't the case. Almost every time the story needed a reference to show how successful Jenny was, it was Taylor this and Taylor that.

Overall, while I personally did not care for this book, if it sounds like something you normally like, you should give it a try.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

[Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a pleasant surprise to me. The story centers around Jennifer a young woman who arrives in Nashville, TN with a limited amount of cash, her guitar, books filled with songs she has written and a deep desire to make it big as a Nashville singer.

At an open night she gets on stage and sings a song of hurt, pain, and desire. The audience is amazed at the talent standing on the stage before them. Jennifer is approached by a talent agent and from there her career takes off. She becomes a huge success. As she pours her hurt, pain, anger and despair into music for her adoring fans, Jennifer finds herself splintering and falling apart.

Tonilyn her hairdresser is a Christian woman who keeps telling her to bring it to the Lord and He will give her peace and happiness. Jennifer finds herself angry that her friend and hairdresser keeps at her this way. She has no trust in anything to do with religion.

Jennifer finally hits the lowest point she possibly can and finds herself drifting into a deep depression. She unexpectedly starts talking to God and cries out to Him. She is amazed at how much better she feels. She feels happy and peaceful.

This is a beautiful story, with a lot of pain, anger, and despair. Jennifer in the end finds love with a paraplegic, her friend and mother-in-law Tonilyn by her side and a faith she never thought she needed or wanted.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer is sure that being a country music star will be everything she has dreamed it should be. After a few years of struggling she finally gets her break. Will it be everything she needs or will it leave her wanting something different?

This book has a great story line. A young person wanting to be a music star and getting more then they expected. I liked that it wasn’t’ a book about just positive things that happened to the character. I liked that hardships were shown as well as a real relationship with the Lord.

The book was well written and the story flowed well. The main characters, especially Jennifer, could really be just about any young person starting out in the music industry. I thought her actions were true to her character, meaning the actions she took were in step with who she was portrayed as.

I gave this book 5/5 stars because the story held my interest and the characters were enjoyable.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the title is what drew me to the book, being a life-long country music fan. Jennifer's desire to become a star is what kept me in the story. Of course, it's not sunshine and rainbows for Jennifer, she faces her share of setbacks before she makes it big. It's a realistic portrayal of what can really happen in the music industry. Obviously, not everyone who wants to be a singer will make it and getting shot down and turned away makes the story relateable. It's also a departure from the usual Christian fiction that I've read - it's not a love story. Not really. Unless you want to call the it a love of music story. It's refreshing and appealing to many different readers.

*Note: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Pump Up Your Book*

[Nina Norstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just lovin' this book cover!!!!!

If you've not been to Nashville, TN, just pick up the book "Twang" (and take that trip). The author does a great job in placing the reader in the setting of this story. Jennifer Clodfelter, a country gal from Georgia strikes out for Nashville in search of her dream. Music City here she comes! For Jennifer, there's nothing greater than becoming a country music star. Dreams do come true. And that too can come at a price. Packed with a range of feelings: pain-heartbreak-misery-anger-and sadness, etc., the author's development of characters and storyline has the reader rooting and tooting until the end. You don't have to be a country-western kinda person either - you can be a R&B lover and enjoy the reading. Oh yea, it has some spiritual elements which gives this book substance.

Julie Cannon you can take a bow with this one!

[a · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great 3 star read
This is a great book full of life & music.
23 year old Jennifer Clodfelter is a Georgia country hick who knows she is destined for greatness. She heads to Nashville, the land of the country star’s dream and sets out to “be someone”.
Much later after she has achieved the glory she always knew she wanted and deserved, she realizes that all that glitters is not gold.
I have been to Nashville and lived in Tennesse so, the feel of the place and the people is spot on.
This is a wonderful story of music, life, love and with just a hint of spirituality that hit just the right note with me…:)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twang by Julie L. Cannon is a beautiful novel about forgiveness, faith and trusting God. It is an enlightening and heartfelt story of healing that I highly recommend. To read my review in its entirety, please click HERE.

[Shannon Chiachiaretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved following this book as it takes place in Nashville and many of the places referred o hive been and could really picture. Definitely a more religious book than I normally read but great story overall

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly tender feelings arose during this very well-plotted tale with excellent characterizations. Will read author again, even this book when I need a lift up. Definitely a Christian novel. TTS-enabled eBook ©2012 Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully, warm and involving novel about a singer who finds fame in Nashville but nearly loses herself. I loved it.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried several times but just couldn't get into this story.

[Nancy Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was good, a quick read

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

didnt finish. couldnt get into the story.