Saturday, July 30, 2016

Like a Bee To Honey by Jennifer Beckstrand


This is book 3 in the Honeybee Sisters series.  True to form, excellent, just like all of Jennifer Beckstrand's Amish books.  

The characters are fun and there's romance, a little mystery and some good laughs to expect.  As the story starts, the damages to the sister's property continues and Rose isn't the bravest of the girls.  In fact, quite the opposite.  She is also a little shy about letting her feelings be known.  The lovable Aunt Bitsy, is her same crazy self as she attempts to raise the sisters as best as she can, even with just a little of that bad English lifestyle creeping through at times.

The book was wonderful and I hope you all have a chance to read and enjoy it.  

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.


You can pre-order at this link.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Searching For True Happiness by Linda Weaver Clarke



This new book by Linda Weaver Clarke, is quite different than other of her books which I have read.  This book is a book to help you gain a positive outlook on life.  It actually gives you some assignments to fulfill and gives many examples of people seeing the good although all around them seems to be things that would only bring despair.

The book even has a story of a German immigrant family who came to America with little.  This was a similar story as my own life story because I too, was from a German immigrant family who started out without almost nothing.  We too, received the wonderful love and service from others.

The suggestions given to find true happiness in our lives are good ones, perhaps those we know and realize but forget with time.

I think you will enjoy this book by Linda Weaver Clarke as it helps us to know that we can overcome with the help of others and with God.

I was given a ebook copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given.

The author:  Linda Weaver Clarke

You can find this book here!

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Melinda and the Wild West. An Audible book by Linda Weaver Clarke

I just finished listening to 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.  I really enjoyed her narrator, Joanna Riley who did a wonderful job interpreting the various characters.  I enjoyed the fact that I had this Audible book on my cell phone and could stick my phone in my pocket with my ear buds and listen while I worked, rested, and "multi-tasked".  It was really enjoyable.

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 

Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter



This novella by Wanda E. Brunstetter was a nice read, although shorter in pages, it still was just as enjoyable as a longer book.

Elizabeth and David are getting married at Christmas, or so was the plan until an unexpected turn of events which made it necessary for Elizabeth to make a hard decision in her life.

I liked the story although it seemed in some ways a familiar story line to me.  Perhaps because I have read similar stories in the past.

I did like it, but perhaps it was just a little too short.  I am a big fan of Wanda's but this probably wasn't my favorite of her writings. But it is definitely a nice Christmas story.  And some recipes are included at the end.  They sound great!

You can get this at pre-order at the following link.

I received an ebook copy of this from NetGalley for my honest review.


Saturday, July 23, 2016

Wanda E. Brunnstetter's Amish Friends Harvest Cookbook

I have several of Wanda's Amish cookbooks and I love them.  This one includes gardening tips and tricks, some of which I might try.  I don't know about dipping my plant leaves in kerosene, however, as I am more of an orgo type gardener.  I like the ant block and some of the other tips, for sure.  I will try the tomato blight spray, as I seem to have a problem with that in my garden quite often.

As for the recipes, the pictures look absolutely gorgeous and appetizing.  I am anxious to start trying quite a few of these for my own family.  I love how each Amish contributor's name is given.

The recipes really do deal with your garden's harvest and the crops that you would commonly grow.  It will add some great variety to anyone's meals.  The Strawberry Cream Cake Roll looks delicious.

I can't wait to try them.

You can grab a copy here.

I received an ebook  copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

The Storm Descends by Gerald Lund

607 captivating pages.  Yes, it's a big book and so good.  I have already read V. 1 and thoroughly enjoyed that as well.  Having had parents that survived German World War II and being from East Germany, I can relate to a lot of what was written as my father was really into political goings on and somewhat a rebel fighting against the Communist party and such.

This book will hold your attention and was obviously researched in great depth to be able to recreate the events in this fictional yet factual novel.

It is woven with suffering, joy, romance and disappointment and happiness.  All kinds of emotions happening throughout this book.

I highly recommend it.


Monday, July 18, 2016

The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter

When Amish Mandy Frey and her three friends head for a Hawaiian vacation, they have no idea what lies ahead in their future.  Mandy and another young Amish woman miss their cruise ship and life begins to change.

I loved this story.  I have always enjoyed Wanda Brunstetter's books, but this was clearly one of my favorites.  Written in cooperation with her daughter-in-law, Jean Brunstetter, it  was a book that I couldn't put down.  I had to see how things turned out.

Definitely a book you need to read!

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.

This book is available for pre-order at this link.  If you love Amish fiction, you will love this book.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

A Bee in Her Bonnet by Jennifer Beckstrand (The Honeybee Sisters Series)

I have to say that there has not been a single book of Jennifer's that I haven't absolutely loved.  The characters are engaging, the plots are good and they are funny!  I love that and this book, the 2nd in the Honeybee Sisters series, had some oh-so funny lines.  Sometimes they were so unexpected that I almost didn't catch the sneaky humor.  Clearly one of the great Amish authors, Jennifer Beckstrand has a fan for life.

I am not going to tell you about the book.  Only that you will enjoy the antics of Honeybee sister, Poppy.  She is an accident waiting to happen.  I highly recommend this book.  I can't wait for the next one!

This book is available for Pre-order and will be available on Jul. 26th.  You can grab it here.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley for my review.  No compensation was received and thoughts are mine.

Heaven 24/7

This book is a guide on how to get your life back on track and closer to God.  Using their own personal life's experiences, the authors share how they turned their lives in the directions needed and how important the blessing of repentance is in our lives.  The book discusses that although wrong roads are taken, it is always possible to turn back, start over and get on course.

This book was a good life guide for all.  I enjoyed reading it.


Monday, July 11, 2016

The 12 Brides of Summer by various authors

This was such a fun book.  I love historical fiction and this had many of my favorite authors.  These historical novellas do stand alone and they are so fun to read.  It was a nice read to relax with for summer reading.    Of course some stories were more interesting than others but as a whole I would recommend this book.  I have read 12 Brides of Christmas and saw connections to the stories which to me makes it fun to re-connect with the previous set of novellas.  I am delighted to have read these.

I was given a ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

I thought I would really love this book as I am a big fan of historical fiction and it also had some mystery, another favorite genre for me.  It starts with Stella working as a stenographer to find out what has happened that caused the death of her sister.  But it was just a bit too slow moving for me.  I loved the cover, it's beautiful, but to me it wasn't one of those page-turners that I had hoped for.  It seemed to have a slower pace and so I had a hard time really getting into the book for a while.

Corruption in the government was a theme that comes through in the story and I enjoyed that very much. I liked this story, but I didn't "love" it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

the Amish Midwife's Courtship by Cheryl Williford

This is the first book that I read from this author.  I enjoyed it and it was a quick and fast read.  It had a fun and different plot and moved quickly.

Molly's mother was an interesting woman from whom Molly probably got her feisty ways and strong character.  I will probably read more of her books.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Tea Shop Folly (A Teacup Courtship Novella) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

This sweet romance novella by Carrie Fancett Pagels did not disappoint.  The author has a wonderful descriptive way with words that makes you feel you are actually experiencing what you are reading in her stories.

This is a part of what appears to me as a 4 part series, with the other parts written by other authors.  I love historical romance and enjoyed the time period set in 1895 in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lilly inherits a house full of beautiful teacups and Theo is the customer that seems to become enamored with Lilly or is it the teacups that interest him?

It was a sweet romance and I enjoyed the story very much.

I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for my review.

52 Ways to Connect with Your Smartphone Obsessed Kid by Jonathan McKee

This book has some great suggestions and ideas on connecting with youth that are totally immersed in their devices.  I personally have seen this many times with my own grand kids and always wonder if I should "interrupt" their total concentration with conversation.

The book gives lots of ideas and even suggests a "No tech Tuesday."  I think it would be a great thing for parents to start implementing these ideas with the first purchase of a cell phone for their youth.

I enjoyed the ideas and will probably start incorporating them into my grand kids' lives as much as I am able to do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.


Sunday, July 3, 2016

Sarah's Surrender by Vickie McDonough

I was so excited to read book 3 in this historical series by Vickie McDonough because I had enjoyed book 2 so much!  Sarah was a young girl that left the brothel life with Jo and together they both began new lives.  Sarah wants to now become independant and find her own way.  Luke has asked for her hand in marriage and to this she replied no.

As she leaves to enter into the lottery of many new parcels of land, she is determined that this is what God wants her to do.  She so much wants a home of her own.

I loved this story of an independent thinking young woman.  The book has a lot of action and you won't want to put it down.  As she finds her way in her new life many unexpected twists and turns arise.

I am sure you will enjoy this book.  It is fast-paced and never a dull moment and a clean read.

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

Now to go back and read book 1!

You can find this great book at this link.