Saturday, April 29, 2017

Alaskan Reunion (Alaskan Grooms) by Belle Calhoune

This was a sweet romance with the themes of forgiveness, trust, and making amends.  The book featured Paige Reynolds whose father's schemes caught her in the backfire.  As a result, she is not welcomed back to town with open arms.  Yet she wants to repair her father's damages.

It is a sweet story and I enjoyed it.  I liked the lessons learned and felt Christian readers would enjoy it very much.

You can grab a copy at this link.


Thursday, April 27, 2017

Amish Wanderer by Laura V. Hilton

This was the first book I have read from this author.  It was a different scenario than many/most of the Amish books that I have read.  It has real intensity and was emotionally charged.  As the relationship between Bethany and Silas grows, they struggle with the lingering and frightening after-effects of their dis-functional family lives.

Life had been not what either had expected and certainly not wanted.  There are several parts of the books with real teaching moments.  I think the one that struck me the deepest was the part about going through the Refiner's fire and the "parable" used to explain that to a no longer trusting Bethany.  Very good!

There was a small issue that I kept noticing, that being because I am bi-lingual and speak and read German.  As such, the use of the word "nein" or "no" in German was used often and in high German this word is usually used to answer a question, yes or no, rather than being used as I have "no" money.  In this context another German word would be used.  But I am not an expert on the Amish German context so I could be wrong about how it is used in their culture.

All in all, I  loved the book and am glad to have read it.  It keeps you turning the pages!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Devoted by Marjorie Jackson

Such a beautiful book by Marjorie Jackson.  This book of 31 days of Devotionals is a wonderful and encouraging way to start each new day.  Definitely a Christian book as it guides you in developing a relationship with God by your daily actions.

Living in a world with standards that change, you learn hope to cope with the outside influences and deal with them.

The book includes 31 adult coloring pages that go with these devotionals.  The book includes scripture quotations, discussion questions which cause you to think and ponder upon the ideas that she is presenting.

The book is well written and uplifting.



You can grab a copy here and it will surely help you gain great outlooks in life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

You Carried Me, a daughter's memoir by Melissa Ohden

This was a very dramatic book about the events in the life of Melissa Ohden.  She discovers that not only was she adopted, but that she was aborted by her birth mother.  This abortion failed and although this baby faced what seemed to be insurmountable health challenges, she survived and grew up healthy, and able to function well in school and other areas.  As she discovered her past, the shock changed her life, taking her to the lowest point in her life.  But again she strives to gain control of her life with a goal to find out more about her past and the parents that created her life.

I found this book to be very moving and highly emotional.  I couldn't put it down and quickly read the book within one day.  The book shows her fight for others whose lives were similar to hers.

I really enjoyed this powerful story.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Lighthouse Secret (Audible Version) by Linda Weaver Clarke



Synopsis: The Lighthouse Secret: Rick Bonito’s uncle supposedly drowned five years ago and his body was never found, but something did not seem right about the report. Uncle Antonio was an excellent swimmer. His disappearance seems quite suspicious to Rick’s father. He never felt the complete truth had come out about his brother. It is now up to Amelia and Rick to find out the truth about his uncle.

This Audible version of Linda Weaver Clarke's book was wonderful!  I love her narrator,  Diane Lehman.  She is so full of expression and very talented!  I loved listening to someone "tell me a story".  I could listen as I drove to and from work and as I commuted on the train and even while fixing dinner.  It's a great way to "multi-task".

I loved Linda's book!  It's a great cozy mystery and for me it was awesome because she always writes about places that I know.  This time her book took me to my old home in California, Palm Springs, and as she described it, I could totally visualize it!  Then they were headed to Ventura Harbor.  I used to live in Ojai which is very close by and trips to the beach in Ventura were a remembrance of years past for me!

But aside from this, the book held my attention to the very end.  My only disappointment was that this is book 7 and will be the last of this series.  I loved this clean romance and the resolution to the mystery.  I look forward to reading other books from this great author.

I received an Audible version of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.

You can grab a paperback or ebook at this link or find the Audible version here!

Return to Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand

In this return to a favorite place called Huckleberry Hill in the quaint Amish town of Bonduel, Wisconsin, you will meet the young single grandson of the Helmuth's, Reuben Helmuth.  This young man is a good lookin', eligible and well-to-do Amish man and he "knows it"!
He's ready to propose to the love of his life only to have his life completely shattered.  Feeling as though he can no longer face the people he knew in Ohio, he heads to Bonduel to stay with his grandparents.

This book is great.  I still really enjoy Jennifer Beckstrand's sense of humor and her light, happy style of writing.  This is a continuation of the wonderful Huckleberry Hill series of the match-making grandparents, Anna and Felty Helmuth. This cute couple will do anything to find the perfect spouse for their many grandkids.

I think you will love reading this fun and captivating story.  Always a good Christian read and full of learning of life experiences, as well.
You can grab a copy of Jennifer Beckstrand's latest book for pre-order at this link.

I received a ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Marta McDowell

I grew up on Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I was a Minnesota gal!  My favorite teacher shared two wonderful book series with us.  The Box Car Children and all things Laura Ingalls Wilder!

I fell in love with the pioneering spirit of these wonderful books.  The trials, the joy, sadness and heartache that all was apart of their lives.

As an adult, I returned to Minnesota and we visited Burr Oak, in Iowa which was not far from my Minnesota border town home.  Now I've shared my love of these books with my daughter and also my granddaughter.

These books are so special to me and I was so thrilled to see this commemorative book on behalf of Laura's 150th birthday.

The book is beautiful and does a real loving memory to this wonderful author and pioneering woman.  Her illustrations and art work are just amazing and the text brought a few tears to my eyes as I remembered the stories and the details of the lives of these people who became a part of my growing up years.  Such a beautiful book, the kind you want to leave on your coffee table for all to browse through.

And as a genealogist, I loved looking at the plat maps, seeing where they lived throughout their lives. I never really realized how often they started over, although I knew that there were several homes.

This book is truly a reminder of the many happy childhood memories this author shared with me and many others who have loved and treasured her books.  So happy to have had a chance to see this wonderful tribute to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I received an e-book version of this book from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. All thoughts are my own.

You can pre-order this book at this link.

My Heart Belongs in Ruby City Idaho

Beautiful cover!  This is the first book that I have read of this author.  I so enjoyed this book.  It was so fun to read about this mail order marriage and how things don't always go as we have planned!

The book is a really enjoyable read.  I had a hard time putting it down.  I will definitely watch for books from this engaging author again.  Their is excitement, romance and I think a little humor in some ways as things start off on the wrong foot.

It's a great clean Christian read, the kind of book I like to recommend to my friends.  Can't wait to read more of her books!

I received an e-book copy from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.

Amish Brides by Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber and Amy Lillard

These are three of my favorite Amish  authors!  The stories were each different and unique.  All very entertaining and such that you didn't want to stop reading till the end.

I love Jennifer Beckstrand's humor in her story, using the wonderful matchmaker characters of her Huckleberry Hill series.
I enjoyed Molly Jebber's contribution, Joshua's Bride, which brought in a historical Amish story from the 1880's which gives a more earlier time period with it's views and feelings.  I loved how this story had a great theme of healing and forgiving and learning to accept people for themselves and not those who surround their lives.

Amy Lillard's  A Summer in Paradise, starts out with a bang, literally as Reba finds herself in a bad way after nearly being hit by a passing buggy. And finding herself the subject of a match-making plan which is definitely not wanted.

Loved these three in a nicely combined book.  Great stories for any Amish reader.  You will love these.

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

You can get your copy here.


Friday, April 7, 2017

The Amish Widower by Virginia Smith

It was the first book of this author's that I have read.  It was sooooo good!  I had to read it every chance I could.  The book was a real page-turner and I notice that it is a part of a series.  I would love to read more from this author.  The story has some surprises that caught me off guard.  I loved that! You will love this book if you love Amish fiction.

The story has great Christian themes and yet these characters had real human feelings that they needed to  be able to learn to deal with.

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

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Love's Compass by Carla Gade with Bonus Story by Darlene Franklin

I really enjoyed this Western historical romance.  There were some really nice scenes, exciting scenes and was a sweet, clean, romance.  This is the first book that I have read from this author, but enjoy this type of book.  And I wasn't disappointed.  It was a nice depiction of Western life, adventure, and trials.

There was also a nice bonus story by Darlene Franklin.  I also enjoyed this book, as well. Hope to read more from both of these fine authors.

I received this ebook from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.  All opinions are my own.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

An Amish Summer by multiple authors

This was a series of four  Amish novellas written by authors that I have enjoyed over the years.  They were Shelley Shepard Gray, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin.  The stories were all different from each other and did not have the same characters and blend into one another, but were all rather unique and different.  I did like that first two very, very much.  They were my favorite ones.

The cover was really beautiful in my opinion. It was a good series of novellas and I was happy that I was able to read them.

I received and ebook copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review which I have given.  All thoughts are my own.