The Grumble Free Year by Tricia Goyer

This was another great self-help type book by Tricia Goyer.  With a hope of creating a home without grumbling, Tricia decided to help her children learn how to live happily together without bickering, fighting and bad relationships.

She incorporated her plans of going a full year without complaining into her homeschooling learnings.  She used scripture, using it to correlate with their goals that they had each set.  They did activities to see what causes the grumbling in their household.  And she writes about how they decided to try to resolve them.

At the end of each chapter there is a reflection page where you can ponder on some of the questions that are also there.  This is a good section to help people to visualize where problems may lie.  As you think about them you realize some of the directions in your life.  She discusses that change begins in your heart.  And what should we do to work on "not grumbling".  We all need to own up to our own shortcomings.  Are they caused by our insecurities?  We need to learn to trust in God's Plan for us.

We all experience hard seasons in life so it is easy to find things to grumble about.

I felt that there was a lot of learning in this book, personal experiences that would relate to the majority of us.  It's a good book to ponder and to help with some of the problems that keep us from having the happy co-existence we all hope to have in our family life.

I highly recommend this book and am sure that there is much to learn from it.

I received an ebook version of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Hope's Highest Mountain by Misty Beller

Micah is now a mountain man, away from the life he once knew.  He comes upon a wagon wreck on  a mountain with one lone survivor.  The survivor, Ingrid, with badly a broken leg.  Ingrid was traveling with her father to deliver smallpox vaccine to a fort in the west that was badly in need of it.

Now the question is how can a woman with a broken leg and a man make it to deliver the vaccine?

This boook of western historical times, was amazing, as has been every book of this author that I have had the opportunity to read.  The adventure will keep you turning pages, the romance, sweet and growing.  The hope always there.

I loved how they relied on God for their needs, healing both physically and spiritually and basically all they did.  Such a sweet adventurous and certainly never boring tale.  A real page turner!

I received a copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Amish Friends Christmas Cookbook by Wanda E. Brunstetter

I wasn't quite sure if I was reviewing the book in the picture above, because the picture on my cover looks slightly different.  The bottom is the same, as is the middle, with title, but the top of mine doesn't have any food, but rather an Amish horse and buggy and a snow scene.  I checked and both publication dates were the same.  So I am certain it's the same book.  At some point the picture must have changed.

I also have an older, 2014 version of this book and there are some of the same recipes in this version, however there are additional recipes and they sound really good.  This version has a different arrangement of the recipe topics and different indexes.  There is an index of the contributors, which is really nice to see. There is an index of recipes by section and a recipe of the key ingredients, such as beef, beans, etc.

The pictures are really nice and appealing and there are some really nummy looking foods!  Each section has beautiful Amish pictures and a appropriate type of scripture.  The contributers are mentioned and where their Amish community was, coming from many different locations, which would give you samples of different Amish groups, I'm sure.

I am anxious to start cooking!

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

Her Second Chance Forever Groom by Lorana Hoopes

This was a grab you from the start book of novella length.

Left behind by a young man seeking to have a football career, Mia marries and that did not have a happy story.  She's on her own now, with a son, trying to nurture and support him financially.  This was an emotional and heartfelt story with Christian values, and a story of improving one's self to make a better life.

When former boyfriend, Emmitt returns to town, how is this going to turn out?  Great story with all the feels!

You will really enjoy this fast and fun read.

I received an ebook copy from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Listening To Love by Beth Wiseman

This was a sweet and endearing book to me.  I loved how the characters of different religious stages in their lives and different understandings come together as friends and how relationships form and become damaged and see whether they have the needed faith to repair the imperfections that exist.

Lucas is a young Amish man who has a special and close friendship with Natalie.  As this friendship grows family members become very concerned about this and worry that their friendship will become more.  And they have too many differences to make this possible. 

I couldn't put this book down.  It was so good.  The author really draws you in.  It's good.  Really good.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

You Can't Judge a Book By It's Murder by Amy Lillard Book 1 Main Street Book Club Mystery

This was a fun cozy mystery and I totally enjoy a good mystery-who-dun-it type of book.  I liked the idea of the All-school reunion, having been to one that was so fun.  So the book starts right out with a body and the police are convinced it was a suicide, but Arlo and Chloe, best friends, feel differently.  They are convinced he was pushed. 

This book takes place in Mississippi and has a fun Southern flavor to it.  There are some rather fun villagers among the "cast of characters" and I enjoyed the fun that these people brought to the story-line. 

Enjoyed it and think you will too!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

An Amish Honor: An Amish Romance Inspired by A Beloved Bible Story by Jennifer Spredemann

At age 17, Joseph King is loved by his father and not so much by his 1/2 brothers.  They are clearly envious of Joseph's standing with his father.  This story is based on the story of Joseph in the Bible and written with Amish characters who have similarities to those in the Bible story. 

I like this series of books as they show the teachings and stories from the Bible can still apply to us in our day, not just in a time period that is often hard to relate to.

This book is a wonderful addition to the other books in this series.  Stories of faith and love of family.

I enjoyed it very much.

I received an ebook version from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman

I think that the only author of whom I have read every single book written by them, is Vannetta Chapman.  That alone says something about this book.  Yes, I have enjoyed this author's books very much over the years.  I don't want to miss a single one.  This book delivered.  I loved how she incorporated her state into the story, which added lots of interest to me. 

It was a sweet romantic book with just the right amount of characters, not too many to get you confused as to who was who.  It had a definitive story-line, which I really enjoyed as Levi, in Stetson and cowboy boots, attempts to convince them to settle in a far-away settlement that he wants to start.  I love how God seems to move in his life to set him onto the path he needs to follow and how Annie is a feisty, high-spirited gal with determination and spunk.

A well-written and very enjoyable read.

I received an ARC copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

Mountains of Grace by Kelly Irvin

I really enjoyed this book which started up quickly in a fire situation.  Fires, although they can "clean" the environment, also cause much devastation and heartache.  The way the author writes about the cleaning or purification of hearts and souls is heartwarming.  The story was one of faith and trials.

In the area where I live, fires are an always big worry.  So I felt the feelings of the characters.

Enjoyed it very much.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

You Belong With Me byTari Faris

This was a very real contemporary read with real-life issues.  Hannah is a realtor who is not selling too many houses.  The reason:  She wants to maintain the historic atmosphere of her hometown.  But there is someone who wants to rid the town of it's historic buildings and make the area a strip mall. 

It is against everything Hannah believes in.  I loved her convictions, and I know that had it been me, I would have fought for historical over modern any day.  The characters were easy to care for, with backgrounds that were difficult and feelings that were hard to overcome. 

The conflict between Hannah and her brother Thomas were moving as Thomas deserts the girl he has dated for years, the girl everyone expected him to settle down with.

The storyline was so captivating and I couldn't put this book down.  I hadn't read anything from this author prior to this book, but I can say she is an excellent author.  I look forward to reading lots more of her books! 

I received a copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

Keeping Her Close by Carol Ross

Book Blurb:

Hired to protect her

…unable to resist her

The job sounds simple: teach a businessman’s daughter how to stay safe. But former navy SEAL turned bodyguard Kyle Frasier has a personal motive, too. Harper Jansen is his late best friend’s fiancée. Loyalty demands he protect her, not that Harper looks in need of rescuing. In fact, it’s Kyle who needs help—balancing duty with his desire to build a life with the one woman he shouldn’t want…

My Thoughts:

This was a great story by Carol Ross.  Kyle is hired to protect Harper and is somewhat torn as to his feelings for her and respect for the memory of his best friend.  As they continue to be together, strong feelings develop and his isn't sure of the best way to handle them.

It's a really good story about feelings that could easily happen under these circumstances.  It's a sweet story and I really enjoyed it so much!  Sorry to see it end!  You will love it!

I received an ebook copy.  All thoughts are my own.

Unbound by Eleanor Bertin

Such a great read!  I loved it and it kept me going from the very first page.  This is the first book I have read from this author.  She is very good at sharing a redemptive story interwoven with Biblical themes of the story of Naomi and Ruth.  It's cool to see how Biblical stories can still be applicable in our day and age.

It was a very good read.  I am sure you will love it too!

I received an ebook copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

This was a really fun book that I picked up for my mom at the local library.  After she finished, she told me that I should read this one, too.  Being as my husband is Japanese and my grandson is on a Japanese Church Mission for 2 years.

It was a fun book to read.  It had a few words in it, that may be a consideration for some.  Aside from that I enjoyed reading about some cultural differences and learned a few words and their context.

The storyline kept a good pace and was not boring at any time.  The visit to Japan made me want to add this to my bucket list!  It sounds so beautiful and the food...well, Japanese food is wonderful and reading about it definitely made me hungry!  Kimi's friends were modern, and fun and it was just plain fun to read.

Sweet story about family relationships, some misunderstandings and bonding.  Very fun.

Mail-Order Misfire by Davalynn Spencer

This book was a breath of fresh air.  A sweet western romance with wonderful characters, a captivating story-line and of course a little action, as well.

Bern Stidham was both preacher and sheriff, and widower with a 9 year-old daughter to raise.   Unbeknownst to him, his daughter arranged a bride for him.  And when the bride, Etta arrives, what is he to do with her?

It was a sweet, happy, clean and Christian read.  I just loved it!

I received an ebook copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.