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Sweet Accord
Sweet Accord by Felicia Mason released on Dec 25, 2002 is available now for purchase.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 6, 2011
"Close-minded, bigoted, and overweight" youth camp director and choir director Haley Cartwright describes herself to her cousin, Amber, in this lightweight novel about understanding those whose opinions differ from yours. Haley's unchristian behavior towards new minister/music director Matt Brandon (nee Dumaine), a more contemporary Christian than Haley with an earring and a motorcycle, makes her one of the most unlikable characters in the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line. At several points in the book, I simply wished for Matt to find someone else, someone who wasn't so utterly narrow-minded and shallow.
But, love triumphs over all, including a "committee" made up of Haley and a few others in the church who want to see traditional forms of worship prevail over Matt's more rock-inspired music choices, as well as a deep, dark secret from Matt's past that he tries to hide from Haley.
The worst part of this book is Haley. She's rude and condescending to both Matt and her cousin, Amber. She repeatedly puts her foot in her mouth and you'd think that a 27-year-old with some degree of intelligence would eventually stop doing this after insulting a few people. That she eventually comes around and falls for Matt is a given but, honestly, if this book reflected real life, Matt would have moved on to another woman, someone who appeared to care about him and not just herself.
But, love triumphs over all, including a "committee" made up of Haley and a few others in the church who want to see traditional forms of worship prevail over Matt's more rock-inspired music choices, as well as a deep, dark secret from Matt's past that he tries to hide from Haley.
The worst part of this book is Haley. She's rude and condescending to both Matt and her cousin, Amber. She repeatedly puts her foot in her mouth and you'd think that a 27-year-old with some degree of intelligence would eventually stop doing this after insulting a few people. That she eventually comes around and falls for Matt is a given but, honestly, if this book reflected real life, Matt would have moved on to another woman, someone who appeared to care about him and not just herself.
January 13, 2015
Meh. This book was a slow read. What I did like about it was that the huge debate over contemporary versus traditional music can be a major issue for churches and therefore its congregants. Although a seemingly petty argument to many it is close to some individuals' hearts and I appreciate that the author made this the main conflict.
October 27, 2012
I really loved this book. It was a GREAT love story. It was Christian based so it wasn't obscene/inappropriate. I plan to read more of these LoveInspired books (this is the 1st one I've ever read); my cousin likes them and some members (at least one) of my church like them.
May 26, 2010
A good lesson in being understanding of those who may see things differently than you do.
January 31, 2022
This book is EVERYTHING that embodies bastardized 'religion' and leaves off true holiness. It's what was known in the 90s as 'Church Growth Movement' and is now called 'Mainstream Progressive Churchianity'. If you like your Bible heavy on Truth and untainted with crap? RUN from this book.
First, there's Reverent Baines, who was led by the Lord to bring back the membership that left the church with a return to traditional values and practices (pg 90-91)... suddenly doing an about-face and wanting to 'get his numbers up' by making his church more happenin'. So he hires an ex-Gospel musician and HIDES his credentials from the church body during the interviewing process in order to deceive the people he claims to love. WRONG!
Then there's Haley, who is grounded in the more conservative views of what Biblical living are... and she HATES Matt. But she luvvvvvs Matt. But she HATES Matt. Except that she LUVVVS Matt. And this see-sawing goes on THE. ENTIRE. BOOK. She's bitchy and vicious and self-righteous and frustrated and half the book is just a.n.g.r.y. So if you're looking for uplifting, this isn't it.
Halfway thru the book, she's whining "I just want to be cool!"... Yeah. Because why would we want to be reflections of Christ, when we could reflect the world, right? It's... utterly disappointing, the attitudes and lack of a deep desire to have pure and sweet fellowship with the Father in this book. It's ALL about 'getting with the times' for the peeps, not being in timeless communion with the Master.
Matt lies by omission, not telling anyone what/who he is. He waltzes into a church (one of FIFTEEN in the city, the book says) and decides it needs *modernizing*, and that means doing away with the 'stodgy' and 'old' ways and embracing 'alt' and 'modern' worship styles. If there are FIFTEEN other churches in town, people who want that could go to one of THEM, hello. Haley even says as much - 'if she wanted that kind of worship, she would attend one of the other congregations'. So I don't see why this would be done, except to bring in numbers, and Christ was NEVER about that (John 6:65-67).
Matt's attitude is that Haley is 'out of touch with the world' (pg 182), and that he had to help her not be so 'sheltered'. Because we should ALL strive to be like the world, amIright? That's what God calls us to do. Not to be set apart, and to come before him in contrition and humility. We should be taking bows at the box social and being ALL dat with the teens, cuz... AWESOME.
Page 61 is his first church service, and it is ALL about worshipping Matt. "Let's give him a hand!" the pastor calls out. People gushing over how wonderful he is. What ever happened to humility, putting self last and giving GOD the glory? But that's not how churchianity works, is it?
On page 63 we have a box social hosted by the church - stolen straight out of Rogers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"... with all proceeds going towards a secular program and a scholarship to a town student... NOT to anything that would further the gospel or the people of God. What. The. Heck? But that's what MAINSTREAM churches do - they're socially involved, and not spiritually motivated to help the saints.
As for scriptures, apparently we're "still beholden to Biblical Law, still under the 10 commandments". (Pg 183). Nevermind that not ONE commandment/law was mentioned in the book, and there are *613* commandments in the Biblical law, only nine of which churchianity bothers to even attempt.
Don't get me STARTED on this book's take on the 'armor of God'... which is the same as churchianity's take: that you have to put it on, every day. Seriously. You have to PUT ON SALVATION like you brush your teeth. You can't just abide in the Father's grace and mercy, you have to re-abide and re-apply, every day. I. Can't. Even.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 the scriptures are CLEAR that God presides over Christ, that Christ presides over men, and that men preside over women. Now as a female with the gift of prophecy and a ministry giving revelation to end times scripture, I'm the FIRST to recognize what a woman has to offer, and our importance in ministries... but NO, women are NOT to be leaders of a church over men. I just gave the verse for that. The Bible says there's a hierarchy, and yet churchianity throws that out, and so does this book. I have problems with that. So does the Bible. Which means so does God. But you do want you want, right? Get yourself a lady pastor to preside over the men. As long as *just one soul* gets saved, it's worth disobeying scripture, right? 'Do as thou wilt', as long as one person is led to Christ? Nevermind that 'Do as thou wilt' is the Satanic Creed. SO wrong, on SO many levels...!!!
I was NOT okay with this book. In fact, it's going in my burn barrel - I wouldn't pass it along to a single soul. And I want to be sure people know what they're getting with this one, so they're aware of the agenda behind it. It's progressive religious blasphemy, and it will be spewed out of His mouth, in the coming judgment.
First, there's Reverent Baines, who was led by the Lord to bring back the membership that left the church with a return to traditional values and practices (pg 90-91)... suddenly doing an about-face and wanting to 'get his numbers up' by making his church more happenin'. So he hires an ex-Gospel musician and HIDES his credentials from the church body during the interviewing process in order to deceive the people he claims to love. WRONG!
Then there's Haley, who is grounded in the more conservative views of what Biblical living are... and she HATES Matt. But she luvvvvvs Matt. But she HATES Matt. Except that she LUVVVS Matt. And this see-sawing goes on THE. ENTIRE. BOOK. She's bitchy and vicious and self-righteous and frustrated and half the book is just a.n.g.r.y. So if you're looking for uplifting, this isn't it.
Halfway thru the book, she's whining "I just want to be cool!"... Yeah. Because why would we want to be reflections of Christ, when we could reflect the world, right? It's... utterly disappointing, the attitudes and lack of a deep desire to have pure and sweet fellowship with the Father in this book. It's ALL about 'getting with the times' for the peeps, not being in timeless communion with the Master.
Matt lies by omission, not telling anyone what/who he is. He waltzes into a church (one of FIFTEEN in the city, the book says) and decides it needs *modernizing*, and that means doing away with the 'stodgy' and 'old' ways and embracing 'alt' and 'modern' worship styles. If there are FIFTEEN other churches in town, people who want that could go to one of THEM, hello. Haley even says as much - 'if she wanted that kind of worship, she would attend one of the other congregations'. So I don't see why this would be done, except to bring in numbers, and Christ was NEVER about that (John 6:65-67).
Matt's attitude is that Haley is 'out of touch with the world' (pg 182), and that he had to help her not be so 'sheltered'. Because we should ALL strive to be like the world, amIright? That's what God calls us to do. Not to be set apart, and to come before him in contrition and humility. We should be taking bows at the box social and being ALL dat with the teens, cuz... AWESOME.
Page 61 is his first church service, and it is ALL about worshipping Matt. "Let's give him a hand!" the pastor calls out. People gushing over how wonderful he is. What ever happened to humility, putting self last and giving GOD the glory? But that's not how churchianity works, is it?
On page 63 we have a box social hosted by the church - stolen straight out of Rogers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"... with all proceeds going towards a secular program and a scholarship to a town student... NOT to anything that would further the gospel or the people of God. What. The. Heck? But that's what MAINSTREAM churches do - they're socially involved, and not spiritually motivated to help the saints.
As for scriptures, apparently we're "still beholden to Biblical Law, still under the 10 commandments". (Pg 183). Nevermind that not ONE commandment/law was mentioned in the book, and there are *613* commandments in the Biblical law, only nine of which churchianity bothers to even attempt.
Don't get me STARTED on this book's take on the 'armor of God'... which is the same as churchianity's take: that you have to put it on, every day. Seriously. You have to PUT ON SALVATION like you brush your teeth. You can't just abide in the Father's grace and mercy, you have to re-abide and re-apply, every day. I. Can't. Even.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 the scriptures are CLEAR that God presides over Christ, that Christ presides over men, and that men preside over women. Now as a female with the gift of prophecy and a ministry giving revelation to end times scripture, I'm the FIRST to recognize what a woman has to offer, and our importance in ministries... but NO, women are NOT to be leaders of a church over men. I just gave the verse for that. The Bible says there's a hierarchy, and yet churchianity throws that out, and so does this book. I have problems with that. So does the Bible. Which means so does God. But you do want you want, right? Get yourself a lady pastor to preside over the men. As long as *just one soul* gets saved, it's worth disobeying scripture, right? 'Do as thou wilt', as long as one person is led to Christ? Nevermind that 'Do as thou wilt' is the Satanic Creed. SO wrong, on SO many levels...!!!
I was NOT okay with this book. In fact, it's going in my burn barrel - I wouldn't pass it along to a single soul. And I want to be sure people know what they're getting with this one, so they're aware of the agenda behind it. It's progressive religious blasphemy, and it will be spewed out of His mouth, in the coming judgment.
February 4, 2019
Growing up Catholic, I understand the philosophy and belief of a traditional church service - I connected with the characters and their fear of change as well as those who sought to reach a different group through a more upbeat and contemporary service. Neither are wrong...just a difference of opinion on how to get to same result. My issue with this story is Haley... she is full of judgments, yet she calls herself a Christian. Her behavior is immature...bordering on a child throwing a tantrum for not getting his/her way. Furthermore, she is boorish, yet she is the leader of the Church's education program for children (mainly teenagers). None of us is perfect, but when one is expected to be a mentor to children, one should expect the same behavior from oneself as she does her pupils.
May 24, 2022
Haley was a basket case. I disliked her right from the start. For people claiming to be Christians, they sure judged other people.
Currently reading
August 27, 2009So far in this book, a church has hired a new music director named Matt Brandon. The thing is, he is more contemporary than old time gospel. Most of the church members are ok with that because they think that they need something new. One young lady isn't ok with it. Haley Cartwright is willing to do almost anything to prevent Matt from changing things. They are put on a committee of two,so that they can come to an agreement or compromise. That is the last thing that Matt and Haley wanted. Well Matt's music really touches Haley and she is slowly falling for him. Yet she stills fights him.
September 1, 2012
Better than I remembered. I can see why this book inspired me to read more inspirational romances like it. Love the people. Love the story.
August 2, 2012
It was an awesome book. I am not that big of a book reader, but this book is very well written. I have read it a handful of times.
January 16, 2013
A Christian romance with a good story line. Kept me interested.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews