Barefoot on Barbed Wire

I am very critical of books, especially those written by people I like, and VERY rarely would I give anything a rating this high, but this book is exceptionally written. The stories are touching, funny, inspiring, and very personal. And I am a huge fan of Cindy Morgan's music. Please do not pay attention to the false review by "a reader" and check this book out. Even if you have never struggled with the issue of fear, this book is still an inspiring read and you could relate to other issues of which it addresses, such as broken relationships, the loss of a loved one, embarrassment, pessimism, and depression. This book is well worth a read AND a re-read.

Cindy Morgan has long been one of my favorite musical artists and she is easily my favorite songwriter. After reading her first book, BAREFOOT ON BARBED WIRE, I now see that her talent for writing extends beyond the notes and lyrics of those songs. BAREFOOT ON BARBED WIRE is not your stereotypical popular-artist-writes-a-book case. In most of those cases I find the book sorely lacking (save the gem from Margaret Becker, WITH NEW EYES). There are the pre-requisite tales of the tour found in these pages, but here those stories enhance the main themes rather than define them. BAREFOOT is, as the sub-title describes, "A Journey Out Of Fear Into Freedom." Cindy, in the beginning, honestly admits her life-long struggle with fear, which at one time gripped her life so tightly it made her sick and immobile. BAREFOOT relates her story from childhood to motherhood-how she let her fears dictate her life's direction, even into her recording career, to how she has been able to begin to conquer those fears through the help of loved ones and a new understanding of God's grace and what it means to put your faith in Him.The story she relates is inspiring and heartwarming, even if you are not one who has the same intense struggle that Cindy dealt with. What makes this story great, however, is the way Cindy tells it. There is a uniqueness to Cindy's songwriting that I can spot a mile away. The best of her songs are filled with poetic imagery and style, honesty, vulnerability, and femininity. Those same qualities are manifested in BAREFOOT as well (which one can discover from the title of the book alone). I found myself becoming totally immersed in the settings that Cindy painted with her pen; almost being able to feel the southern humidity, "hanging in the air as thick as honey." I felt as if I, too, knew Mrs. Romine, Samuel and Roho, Hollis, and her father, Cova. As I read I found myself grinning at times, wanting to shed a tear at others, and always empathetic. Cindy is clearly a talented writer-musically or in this more traditional format. Her ability to draw in the reader, combined with her willingness to bare her soul and relate her experiences in stark honesty, give her message that much greater an impact. BAREFOOT is a beautifully told, human tale. It's message is one of freedom from fear, into faith, but it is a message absent of Christian cliché or pretense. Because of that, one can only hope that this is but the first of many books that Cindy will lend her talent and experiences to. FIVE STARS.

I believe Barefoot on Barbed Wire is an inspirational book for anyone battling fear. Many of us can put ourselves into her shoes. Those who have struggled with fear can easily identify with her heartfelt stories. She has opened up her heart to take you inside of her daily journey. I like the way she shared her openess about childhood memories and the exciting things that are yet to come. In a diary you are aloud to write about the parts of oneself that remain hidden to others. This book is like that because we see the parts of a women who is incredibly real in her struggles. The book reveals to me that freedom is found not in the journey but in power higher than us all.

Cindy Morgan is at her best in her honest and heart-warming book, "Barefoot on Barbed Wire". Her down-to-earth style and relatability will help you to confront the fears you struggle with and find the courage to start living life as it was meant to be lived - positively! She shares candidly about her family and the geneological aspects of the bondage of fear. I am planning on giving this book as a gift over and over again. Truly worth the read!