I am a huge fan of Randy Travis!  When I saw his book, I just had to read it, so glad I did.  The only negative thought I have, there is a lot of repetition.    I sure hope everything in Randy's life continues to improve for him.  Writing his story, I am sure, has been good for him,  I definitely have enjoyed reading about his life.  He is a good person in so many ways. I think God thinks so too.    Thank you for an advanced copy of this book.

Forever and Ever, Amen is a very enjoyable memoir from not only a legendary artist, but a legendary Christian, and legendary human being.  Randy Travis opens up about his early rough beginning, his determined rise to fame, his personal tragedies and ultimately his resilience, his perseverance, and reconnection with his faith.  

Mr. Travis’ trials and tribulations reveal the underlying facets of character that undoubtedly play a huge part in his success in music and in life.  We are treated to a front row seat of the career of a man who wanted to be true to his art form of pure Country music.  In divining that truth, Travis remained in awe of his professional predecessors as well as his fans.  The book is rich with anecdotes of the very humble Mr Travis being awe inspired by the many closet celebrity country music fans’ awe of him.  

This book takes the reader behind the scenes of the evolution of the Randy Travis catalog of country hits from the creator’s perspective.  I found myself further engrossed, as I felt compelled to cue up that very catalog to step through the audio and reconnect with it musically as I read.  While that took some extra time and slowed my reading pace some, it was well worth the investment.  

Read Forever and Ever, Amen, and not only will you learn more about the stellar career of a legend and sometimes tragic life episodes he endured, you may end up with a new and very worthy hero. The world would be a far better place with more people like Randy Travis.

As soon as I saw this book was about Randy Travis, I couldn’t resist. Growing up in the 90s, I remember my grandma playing his music and watching some of his movies. I also love some of his songs I hear on Spotify, and i just knew this was a memoir I needed to read!

Travis is very open and honest. Sharing his humble roots and his ascent to fame, he does not skip on details. Sometimes I was bored, learning about his life. But I realized what a gift he has to be able to share his story about what he endured, and I had a new outlook on his story. Travis gives all of his details, from working in a kitchen to becoming a huge country music star. He lived a good life doing music, and he is grateful for all of those moments he was given. I liked learning about how his hit songs came to be and all of the people he worked with. I had no idea how much work goes into country music. It was also fun to learn about his awards and all of the people he has worked with.

Ken Abraham has helped weaved this story in something very conversational and easy to read. This is like sitting down with a friend and having a long conversation. It reminds me of my grandma telling me stories about her life, one of the reasons I will be buying this book for her so she can enjoy a story about Randy Travis and because of how casual and yet approachable this story is. Also, I didn’t know his story at all so I was surprised to learn about his manager Lib and how she turned out to be not so great. I suppose loyal fans already know, but that was a big surprise for me considering the kind way he would speak about her in the start of the book. Guess it just shows what a kind and good person Travis is.

Also, I actually thought Randy Travis was dead? And the reason is because this book talks about a terrible stroke he has where he almost did die.
He was also in a coma so they didn’t know he had a stroke, and he could have died. It was such a sad part of the book, and I was so glad to be able to read he had survived through his fiancée and his personal beliefs. However, he suffered a lot and had to learn to walk again. He also can’t do music anymore. But I honestly feel with how strong and wonderful he is, there could be more music from Travis in the future. He has will and gumption, and I think there will be more stories from him someday. And I look forward to them.

All in all, this book is wonderful. I would recommend this book to fans of Travis and those who enjoy memoirs with a conversation feel. It will be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good story about survival and his music fans. Of course I’ll be buying this for my grandma, and I hope she loves it as much as I do.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am not a really big fan of biographical books, but when I saw this one available on Netgalley, I requested it right away because I am a fan of the music of Randy Travis.  I couldn’t wait to learn more about his life and this autobiography was a great resource to do that.  The style of the book was like sitting in my den and having the author tell me the story of his life.  There was a lot of information and so many trivial facts that it made my head too full at times.  I had no idea how many great Nashville musicians has influenced him and how difficult his life has been.  He had to overcome a divorce, alcohol abuse, and a massive stroke.  He is definitely a survivor and an inspirational example of how to seek and find redemption in a life that spiraled down once success was achieved.  I liked his honesty and his ability to enthrall me with all of the name-dropping and details.  I must admit that when he started going through all of the recording studios that he tried to interest in his music, I skimmed because it got a bit too much for me there.  All in all, this was an enjoyable and educational autobiography of an icon of country music.  
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions 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 Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Randy Travis has always been one of those "larger than life" country music legends.  I was not a huge fan - but my sister was - so I kept up with his career through her.  

One of a kind voice and definitely a life well lived!  This was a great read and walk down memory lane.  His strength and tenacity are to be envied.

If you have always loved Randy Travis and his unique musical sound, you will enjoy reading this book. Having lived near his hometown, I was familiar with the story of his life and career. Through hard times and good, his perseverance and his musical talent have assured him an honored place in country music history indeed. 

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to read and review. A solid 4 stars.

#foreverandeveramen#netgalley

I'm always excited to read a good memoir, and I was intrigued to read this one since I've been a fan of Randy's music since I was a kid.

I'm disappointed to see that it didn't get more coverage or advertisement and that it has so few reviews on Goodreads. I think this booked must have lacked good marketing since I feel like the pool of people who would be interested in reading this should be much larger than it appears to be.

This really put me in the mind of many other biographies I've watched or read on singers, like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Randy was a beautiful soul!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Randy Travis' successes and failures in life.  Being a country music fan, I would truly love to one day see and hear him sing once again in concert "On the Other Hand" and "Forever and Ever, Amen."

I had vaguely heard of Randy Travis but didn't know anything about him or his music but really enjoyed this book. I found the stories of his childhood and his adult relationships with his two wives, Lib Hatcher and Mary Davis very interesting. There were some sections in the middle which felt a bit like a diary of every record he'd recorded and person he'd worked with. I'd not heard of many of these people so those sections dragged for me but I am sure would be of more interest to someone familiar with the country music scene.

Randy has been very honest about all of his life, warts and all, in this book. He really has had quite an amazing life coming from very humble beginnings in Marshville, North Carolina to being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1986 at the age of 27. When he was 17 he moved in with Liz Hatcher who was 16 years older, his manager, later wife. On one hand, she rescued him from a damaging family situation where Randy and his brother Ricky were in serious trouble with the law but, on the other hand, she was very controlling and eventually moved on to yet another younger man and a lot of Randy's money. It's all a sad situation which I hope works out well for him health wise and finance wise going into the future. The latter third of the book was quite gripping with the relationships and health issues. 

The author, Ken Abraham, has done an amazing job in putting together this book written as though it were by Randy and I see many say it indeed sounds like his voice. Not knowing Randy and his story beforehand I just assumed that it was his writing until, after reading the book,  I watched some recent videos of him and realised that when this was written, 7 years after his major stroke, he can barely more than a few words. Maybe this explains why there is not a lot of detail on his childhood which I felt could have given a lot more material for the book. Hopefully one day Randy will get stronger and maybe write about that, Ken Abraham is to be applauded for the research and writing with the material he did have.

With thanks to NetGalley and Nelson Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful book that fans of Randy Travis will definitely enjoy. He is one of my favorite country singers and I really learned a lot about his life from reading this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

If you're a Randy Travis fan like I am, you will love getting the back story on Randy's  life.  I still have the records I bought of his back in the mid 80's and I ask Alexa to play him often.  I've only known bits and pieces of his story so I really enjoyed reading this book. Any fan of Randy's should give it a try!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I love the way this book is structured!  As a long time country music fan, it was refreshing to see an autobiography like this that shared so much of his life in the spotlight and behind the scenes.

I have loved Randy Travis for as long as I can remember, singing in the backseat with my mom. When I was given the arc for this I was so happy. I never knew anything that was in this book except for his stroke, it was great to learn about this star who has been in my live for so long.

I received an electronic copy from Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins through NetGalley.
Biography of Randy Travis's life from childhood through 2018. Readers can hear his voice throughout though others provided much of the information as he continues to recover from a stroke in 2013. Kind portrayal of his first wife and accountant though their betrayals were immense. He doesn't flinch from sharing all aspects of his life. His faith shines through.

Forever and Ever, Amen
A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life
by Randy Travis
 Listen to an Audio Excerpt
Harper Collins
 You Like Them
Thomas Nelson
Biographies & Memoirs
Pub Date 14 May 2019   |   Archive Date 14 Jul 2020

I love reading biographies and learning more about the people involved in the music business. I read this book very quickly and I think it will be one my patrons will enjoy.  Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC. 
5 stars. .

When I think of Randy Travis I think of my childhood. Whether my older brother and I were listening to the radio at home or if we were spending the summer at our aunt's house in Houston listening to the radio with her, Randy Travis was a big part of our childhood. We loved all of his songs. He doesn't live to far from where I do in north Texas and I knew he had a big rough patch before his stroke, and an interesting story before he became famous and I wanted to hear about it from his own mouth, so I appreciate that he wrote this book, not only to give us a glimpse at his rise to stardom, but the testimony of a broken man giving his life to Christ.  This was a great read for me right before Easter. I can't believe all of the things that Randy Travis has had to overcome in his life, but I am glad he did. He seems to be in a good place now. I hope it stays that way forever and ever, amen.

Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life is a fascinating read. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy country music. 
Five stars.

When I saw this book is on the life of Randy Travis whom is my favorite country singer since he first came out I knew I had to read his life story.  I thought I knew a lot about him because of him being on the news many times and the newspaper articles but I loved this behind the screens of Randy’s life.  I read this book in an hour and I will be getting a copy for my home library!

If you love biographies or just a fan of his then you must pick up a copy of this book!  I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson publishers for my honest review.

A tell all biography of one of the greats of country music.  Randy Travis follows his life from growing up in the home of an alcoholic father, to beginning his music career at age 17 while being controlled by his manager, girlfriend and later wife.  Travis recounts his years of success in country music only to find out later that his controlling wife/manager was stealing from him.  The book ends without going into the details of his financial losses, other than the suggestion that she left him almost penniless.  Most surprising to me was his grace and lack of bitterness as a result of the treatment he received.
The book picks up steam in the last third when his life and career start going off the tracks.  I had heard of his DWI and very public embarrassing events, but it was good to understand the back story.  Travis does not sugar coat the events and acknowledges his failures, but they are understandable when put in context.  His tragic heart disease and stroke that almost killed him and left him severely disabled is covered in the last several chapters.  I have a much greater admiration for Randy Travis as a man after reading the book.  He was not perfect, but he acknowledged that all he had was due to the grace of God, including the unlikely ability to tell his life story.  I hope the book is a great success.  He deserves it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so sorry I didn't have enough time to download this book. I was looking forward to reading it because I really like Randy Travis!