Monday, February 29, 2016

Jenny's Dream by Linda Weaver Clarke


This was book 3 of the 5 part historical fiction Bear Lake Family series.  It is always nice to read one of Linda Weaver Clarke's books which are always entertaining, factual and clean reads.  

This, as the title indicates is the story about Jenny, daughter of Gilbert and Melinda, the couple that blended their lives and family together.A wonderful story that takes you back in time and let's you visualize what life was like as people forged their lives in an untamed land.

As Jenny's dream of her future began to come true, she discovered that sometimes dreams can change with time. And sometimes surprise you.

It was a great read and I recommend it along with the previous 2 books in the series.  It has adventure, romance and historical elements which make a great combination.  I know others will enjoy this story as much as I have.  Here is the link to where you can find her book.  

I received an ebook version of this book for my honest review which I have given.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

This new series by Charlotte Hubbard promises to be an enjoyable one.  I was surprised how openly and honestly the problem of abuse was dealt with in Amish circles and how women's roles were depicted in a similarly honest and frank manner.  I think sometimes we see their lives and peaceful, happy and religious in every way.  It was good to read that life is not always rosy for them, either.

After trials in the Coldstream settlement, Rosetta and Mattie find an old abandoned camping area and lodge and decide to start their own settlement taking along some family and friends to help them start out.  Noah, whose mother Mattie makes plans for the new settlement comes with her having been disappointed by his fiance and needs to find peace in his life again.

His biggest surprise is when Deborah appears at Promise Lodge also wanting a new start for reasons not clear to Noah.

This book was really different than other Amish books I have read.  It was a refreshing and honest view of their lives, showing that they, too, have problems to deal with and to overcome.  As the group of new settlers come to realize their dreams, twists and turns are not yet gone from life and they learn that together, as community and friends they become stronger.

I know that I will be anxiously awaiting book 2 in this series.  I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher for my honest review which I have given.


Monday, February 22, 2016

Grace's Forgiveness by Molly Jebber

This was another sweet book by Molly Jebber.  I love Amish books and this one was a good book.  I think I liked some of her other books just a bit better, but this was good none the less.

Grace and her friend Sarah run an Amish store.  The time period is 1900 and the story plays out in Berlin, Ohio.  The Amish rules of this time seem a bit more unbending and I feel it was probably very hard to live by them.  Grace has a birthmark on her cheek which most men have noticed and as a result she is still unmarried.  She has been serving her community as a midwife and does this along with her store.

As a new Amish man comes to town, he purchases the store next to Grace and Sarah's.  He immediately is taken with Grace and seems to not be concerned with her birthmark.  As they become closer, and marriage is imminent, Abel, Marks shunned brother causes difficulties by actions of his past.  These difficulties become more so as Grace's father becomes aware of Mark's brother and as a result no longer allows Grace to be with Mark.  Will Grace's prayers be answered or will they remain apart?

This story was very enjoyable and I hope to read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my review which I have given.


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger by Linda Weaver Clarke

Another sweet romance by Linda Weaver Clarke and book 2 to her Bear Lake Family Saga does not disappoint.  I have been enjoying this series and happy that I was given a chance to read these books.

Edith is an educated woman who is very particular about men.  She doesn't wait to get to know the inner man if the first or second encounter with this person are not what she expects.  Knowing this, her secret admirer decides that he would like her to get to know him before she has the chance to reject him.  As he finds his own way to court her, she finds herself enthralled with this mysterious man who has not revealed his identity to her.  Will he have better success than the others who have attempted to court this interesting woman?  You will need to read this one for yourself and I am sure that you will enjoy it.

I hope that I will be able to read this entire series.  You can find this book at this link.

Disclosure: I received this ebook from the author for my honest review which I have given.


Saturday, February 13, 2016

100 Lecie Parafii 1916-2016 by Adam Czmuchowski


This is a little bit different kind of a book review and is also being posted on my Genealogy blog.  This is a book about one of my ancestral towns.  It is about the parish church 100th anniversary in Klein Tschansch. This is a part of Breslau/Wroclaw.  My mother was born in Breslau and her mother put her and her sister in the convent here for child care during the week.  I knew my mother had been in a convent but she always thought it was the Ursulinen convent in Breslau.  However, through the Melde/moving records of Breslau I discovered that she and her sister had both stayed here.

I am not sure about the availability of this book.  But if anyone else shares a common ancestral history, it will be great information to know about.  The author is a well-versed and educated man who knows incredible amounts of historical information about the entire Catholic complex that served the people here.

I just wanted to share this with all of you.  I met Adam Czmuchowski on one of my trips to Poland and it was a wonderful experience to be able to learn some of the things he shared with me.

Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman

I loved how this book weaved itself through the lives of different people from such different backgrounds and how Amish, Englisch, and all denominations came together in a time of great need. The book started out as two separate stories and how two roads converged into one.

People who have read my past reviews, know that I LOVE Amish books.  But I have to admit many that I have read start to follow the same patterns.  But this book was different.  It created its own unique and heart warming pattern.

I loved how people grew beyond what they saw to become less judgmental and look to the hearts and souls of people rather than what shows only on the outside.

Having being to Corpus Christi and gathered shells from the beach with my then 6 year old grandson, I could place myself there as the winds would have gathered and as the waves grew out of their natural boundaries becoming treacherous and deadly.  This story of those in desperate need and those with helping hearts came together to heal and strengthen one another.

Each of the characters in the book grew and changed as they went through their own personal trials and those of the others in the book.  Although different they discover things about one another that are totally the same and learn to love others more.

It's a beautiful tale and I was so happy to be able to read such a well-written and captivating book.  I highly recommend this one!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my review.

You can find this book at the following link.

The author Vannetta Chapman.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Steeplechase by Carrie Fancett Pagels and Giveaway!!!


Synopsis: 

Martha Osborne fears for her six-year-old brother, who was shuffled off to boarding school when his British mother departed to England. 
Set in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in the build-up to the War of 1812, expert rider Martha plans to substitute for her older brother in a “race to the steeple” to win the prize—and a bet with Phillip Paulson, equestrian trainer at Yorkview Academy, to help have her little brother returned home. When Phillip stumbles upon the real reasons behind the secret race he finds he may not be able to keep his end of the bargain. Can he save Martha and her brother? And will his heart be lost in the process? 


My Thoughts

I so enjoyed this book of Carrie Fancett Pagels.  Her vivid descriptions of places and events can stir the imagination and make you feel as though you too were witnessing and living in the events of the books.  

The 1810 time period shows a still somewhat fledgling young country and the events and feelings that still existed from a time recently passed when feelings of old wounds perhaps were not completely healed.  How will this affect Martha Osbourne and a family whose father remarries an English woman who spends much of her time in England?

The Steeplechase has many twists and you will enjoy this book very much.  The author is a very talented writer of historical fiction, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres.

Carrie has graciously offered a ebook to one lucky winner who comments below.  Follow my blog and you get an extra chance!  Thanks Carrie and good luck to all that enter.  Last day to enter will Feb. 17th and the winner announced on Feb. 18th!

Disclosure: I received a PDF version of this book from the author for my honest review.  

Melinda and the Wild West by Linda Weaver Clarke

I just finished reading this very interesting book by Linda Weaver Clarke.  It was certainly my favorite of all the books from this author.  I guess this could be because it deals with times and places that I could really relate to, especially living in Utah and being familiar with Idaho and Bear Lake.

As easterner Melinda heads west to Idaho to teach school, she finds a most exciting beginning to her new life, a bank robbery.  This book has many events that were of actual history of the places that she writes about.  I love how she wove fiction and history together to keep the reader involved with the characters, times and places.  This book was written about some of the events and places in the lives of her ancestors.  This also has a special appeal to me as a genealogist.  And there is always something special about bringing real events out in your reading.  Much more believable!

This is a very family friendly romance set in a difficult but fascinating time in history, as the doors to the west were opened to those seeking a better life for themselves.

I really enjoyed the book and hope to be able to read the remaining books of this series.  I recommend it!

You can find this book at the following link.

The author, Linda Weaver Clarke

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

The Right Kind of Girl by Betty Neels

So I won a used book on a giveaway.  It is the first time that I had won a used book.  It was well used, but I decided to read it.  I liked it well enough, but it was published in 1995 and written in English terms that were interesting to me because definitely not in the writing language I have grown accustomed to.

It was a story about a marriage of a 25 year old woman, who was apparently not so attractive to to a Sir Paul of England, a surgeon.  And although you knew that they cared for one another, neither of them seemed to be aware of this.

Emma, after a tragic loss of her mother, finds herself in financial difficulties.  Her mother's doctor, Sir Paul Wyatt comes to call and they find themselves enjoying one another's company.  They carry out the marriage of convenience and Emma seems to find herself alone a lot and with some competition for the attentions of her husband.

The book is a fast and fun read and taught me some British - English terms that I hadn't heard before, but could easily figure the meaning to from the sentence context.

I enjoyed it.

It can still be purchased and link is here.