Love Inspired Inspirational by Ruth Logan Herne "His Mistletoe Family"

                       ~A Christmas Story~

His Mistletoe Family by Ruth Logan Herne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love to read the LI books, this one is by Ruth Logan Herne "His Mistletoe Family"  A Christmas story

Brett is one tough man in his community and when a little slip of a gal comes in with a couple of tiny kids he loses his heart almost instantly to the little needy family.
Haley has just taken her nephews to raise after they have lost both of their parents and she is not sure how to be a mama but if Love can help her she will do right by these little ones.
She has just began a new project at work and is working many hours and not sure what she will do with the kids while working.  She soon finds she can't even get them into school or day care without paperwork.
Brett is a godsend(literally) as he helps her with many things and soon the attraction they feel at the beginning for one another is growing stronger.
Haley feels committed to her work and doesn't want any distractions so she tries to put a damper on the feelings-Brett backs off and lets her know he will be there to help with the kids, giving her space.
This is a wonderful read that you will enjoy of two small boys finding they can trust again that they wont be alone and the grown-ups learn a few things too.  God works in the midst of this tough man who had closed his heart for many years after losing his spouse.  Haley too opens her heart and listens more as she gets things done and begins to feel she needs this man in her life as much as she needs air to breathe and food to eat.
Thanks Ruth for a wonderful Christmas read....

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Courting Cate by Leslie Gould



Courting Cate by Leslie Gould
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould


A story about sisters Cate and Betsy...
Cate was around 6 yrs old when Betsy was born and her Mother died shortly after, Cate always felt like she should take care of Betsy and even as a young child she took her job seriously helping out much with her Grandmothers help at first and then later taking full responsibility raising and loving this young sister.  Many times the sister's wishes were taken care of before her own and Betsy come to rely on Cate.
Cate so sweet to a sister though, was not known in her community as anything but a shrew-no boyfriend stayed for long and many teased her at school growing up til she decided she was unlovable.
Cate was approaching the spinster life when Pete Treger came to their area looking for work and a wife-so he said.  Cate just knew he would look at Betsy, sweet pretty Betsy.  She was amazed and a little confused when he turned to her with pretty words and ask her to go hiking with him.
Cate just knows the men of the area that always teased her has set her up for a fall so she reluctantly goes with Pete and to her amazement finds she likes this young man and begins to thaw around him.
I enjoyed reading this book given to me by Bethany house for a review and know you will love the characters of Cate&Pete as you watch their courtship and how they come to find one another after much bickering in their love-hate relationship....which will win?

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Jesus Is Born

Merry CHRISTmas to one and all from one in Ga


It is early morn and a fog has settled around our area with wet on the front porch and sidewalk.  I am thinking today of that long ago morn when Mary awakened to a new born babe beside her looking into its eyes -touching the fingers and toes like all new mothers do, thinking of the miracle that brought this tiny baby into her life.  She doesn't know what tomorrow will bring yet she smiles and feels all the Love a Mother can feel at a time like this.  It doesn't matter that she is in a lowly stable with the smells of cows and hay all around, it doesn't matter that the morning is still dark and Joseph still asleep on the other side of the barn area.  Mary feels Love pure and simple and knows in her heart that this baby will somehow make big changes because the angel of the Lord had visited her and told her of the baby coming and how she was to be the Mother -to raise him and let him learn all he could to share with mankind.  Soon Joseph would awaken and they would make decisions together but for now she lay against the hay and pulled the tiny babe to her breast and thanked God for the awesome priviledge that she now has. 
She hears noises and turns to find three wisemen walking towards the stable each holding a gift and talking quitely among themselves.  This is it I see the star above that has led us through the night, look yonder ..a stable for animals yet I feel that HE is there, the one we have came to find. come lets meet our new King...

They stumble forward and kneel when they see Mary holding the baby and they lay their gifts on the ground nearby and praise his Holy Name...Jesus is Born.

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado California by Keli Gwyn

Keli Gwyn brings old California alive with a story that's filled with faith,hope and Love.  When a willful widow matches wits with a competitive shopkeepker you just know there will be fireworks.  The battle of the sexes has never been so much fun....

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California by Keli Gwyn


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado California by Keli Gwyn


I loved the characters of Elnora and Miles, they shone like stars throughout this story-you are in for a treat with this story.

Widow Elnora Watkins was an independent type woman and had helped her father in his shop but when he took his step-son on as partner and she thought she would have had that privilege all these years of working for him-it was the last straw and she started looking for another store and another place to live.
Miles Rutledge is a tall strong handsome man who lives and owns a shop in El Dorado where he is looking for a partner, He received letters from E Watkins and knew the credentials were good ones and offered the position sight unseen. Elnora and child Matilda who is effectionately called "Tildy" arrive and it throws Miles for a loop. He cannot have a woman for a partner and they get off on the wrong foot from the beginning.
Being an independent woman and knowing that she has to make a living for she and her child, she opens a shop across the street from Miles store. it may be smaller but it has charm and genteelity with a woman owning it. Soon the two are in competition and though she likes Miles and his mother there is friction daily between the two.
Tildy is the buffer between them as Miles loves Children and they get along great....
As the story unfolds Miles and Elnora, whom Miles calls "Elle" find they have much in comon besides their stores. they both can play the fiddle.
Miles had heartache in his first marriage and is not about to have another, Elnora did not have a happy marriage either and her father always dominated her so she is not wanting to get close to "Any" man.
You will love this story as theses two strong characters listen to their hearts and God  gives Love a chance to grow between them, slowly....




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Mail-Order Holiday Brides by Jillian Hart&Janet Tronstad

Mail-Order Holiday Brides: Home for Christmas\Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Jillian Hart


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two of my favorite authors in one book LIH "Mail-Oder Holiday Brides" by Jillian Hart&Janet Tronstad

Jillians story is "Home for Christmas"
Christina Eberlee needs a new start in life, she needs a home and is looking for Love because there has been little of that in her life, so she answers several ads from the paper and soon "Tom" sends monies and proposes expecting her to be his bride when she arrives. Tom tells Christina that he is a farmer and has a nice place that he needs help with.
While on the train Christina meets A sheriff by the name of Elijah, he is tall and strong and so nice and friendly, it seems he is there helping whenever she needs it on the trip and then when they arrive and Tom is not there to meet her as the station is closed for the night and the cold and darkness surrounds her -Elijah appears again and takes her to the hotel to wait.
On the way to hotel a boy runs pell-mell into street so fast that he is hit by wagon drawn by horses when he runs right in front of them. Elijah runs to help and soon they meet "Toby" a very young runnaway from an orphange who is skinny and bedraggled. The Hearts of these two people, Elijah and Christina are such that they must help him. They both know how hard life can be at times.
Three lives become entangled in just a few minutes and will never be the same....
When Tom finally shows up to meet Christina she realizes he is not the man she had hoped for but she did promise so she tries to make the best of it and talks him into a few days to get to know one another and plans to marry on Christmas eve. He takes her to boarding house where he has asked Mildred to keep and eye on her for him but he doesn't even ask about her finances and how she will eat while she waits for him.
The small town of Angel Falls is a community of caring folks and Christina falls in love with the little town and its people.
you will want to read this story and see what happens between Tom&Christina, Elijah&Christina and the little boy Toby. I knew that Christina had big decisions to make and her heart was in great danger being around Elijah so much and seeing his goodness.

Janet Tronstad writes "Snowflakes for Dry Creek"




Gabe's brother writes for a mail-order bride and then gets cold feet and leaves town and his children with Gabe telling him to take care of things for awhile...

So Gabe finds himself waiting on a cold windy station platform looking for a young woman who is looking for his brother to meet her. The children had been told Annabelle would be their new mother and they were anxious to meet her. Gabe loved the children and wanted to take care of them the best he could but was not sure how he would handle this situation now. He wanted to send her right back to where she came from but knew with Christmas so near the Christian thing to do would be bring her home for the children.

Annabell is shaken to learn her betrothed is not there but the children make up with their eagerness as she travels with the brother to his home.

Adam had stretched the truth some when he wrote to Annabell about his ranch and the life he lived. would he return -she stayed thinking he would and that everything would be ok.

Gabe didn't want a wife or softness in his life but was beginning to have feelings for Annabell as he watched her with his neice and nephew.

He left to hunt for his brother the next day and went to nearby fort where he was sure his brother would be with the men there gambling and having food to eat with them, but soon found that he was out hunting with the men and it would be anyones guess where they would be so he headed home again.

Annabell helped the children to have a nice Christmas, Gabe invited many neighbors for a party and several from town came out and the people gathered and made do with primitive things and foods to have fellowship at "Christmastime" folks did not get together much and it seemed everyone was so happy that Gabe had opened his home to them. Adam showed up but had been drinking and Annabelle did not get to see him at his best.

Annabelle knew she would not be able to marry this man and knew he didn't want a wife either so she talked with him about being nanny for the children and he was elated about that, he soon was gone again and that left Gabe and Annabell to talk about the feelings that had been growing between them.

I was happy to read that all were happy by the end of the book and felt that Gabe and Annabell would find happiness themselves from a situation that had looked so dire in the beginning...

Thanks Janet and Jillian for some good Christmas reading.


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Series A Hickory Ridge Romance book #3 "Every Perfect Gift" by Dorothy Love

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Series A Hickory Ridge Romance book 3"Every Perfect Gift" by Dorothy Love


Sophie has spent a lifetime guarding her heart and a long-held secret. It will take all of her courage to speak the truth and embrace the future God has planned for her.

The year is 1886, and Sophie Robillard returns to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, after living in Texas for 15 years as the ward of Ada and Wyatt Caldwell.

Sophie from the time she was a little girl felt like an outsider, others didnt include her and she missed the bond of a Mother-Daughter when her mother left her with a family member and she was put into orphanage at early age. The Caldwell's raised her and she was deeply grateful and loved them but still missed and wanted her Mother. Sophie had a strength that helped her as she became determined to come back to Tennessee and start up a newspaper...

Sophie met Ethan soon after she was back and his childhood too had brokenness and the two seemed to become friends. From the first time she interviewed him because of his work at "Blue Smoke" a development run by a wealthy man who thought more of himself then others and wanted the develpment to be a place where wealthy folks would come and play, He hired men at low wages and the area where they lived while working for him was below grade. Ethan did all he could to make the mens lives better. Sophie saw the goodness in this man and he in her..

Both Sophie and Ethan carry secrets from childhood and it is interesting story to read and learn that from mistakes we make in life or things gone awry, still we can be forgiven and forgive others making our own lives richer for it. I enjoyed these characters and the others that touched their lives and am sure you will too.

The beautiful cover may make you pick the book up to read but the story woven inside will hold your interest and keep you turing the pages to find out what will happen next.




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"A Merry Little Christmas" by Anita Higman

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


"A Merry Little Christmas" by Anita Higman

Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds. Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who's preparing to spend the holidays alone...again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny's farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she's more than happy to sell the farm and move to the big city. A dream...


Franny is a wonderful honest young woman who stayed on the farm after her parents died suddenly and comes to love the animals so much that she talked to them-even sang to them. She danced through her chores each day and before she knew it many years had slipped away...

Charles Landau came from a prominent wealthy family where he grew up with nannys and schools for boys after his mother died early in life. His father just never seemed able to show Love...in fact he was a strict man wanting his sons to live their lives HIS way, causing much problems in the lives of the boys.

Charlie's dream is to be a farmer and one day he comes to Oklahoma and buys the farm from Franny making her dream come true to move to the city. She agrees to stay a short while and teach Charlie how to be a farmer and it is in this time two lives collide and Love just might get a toe-hold between these two who so desperately need someone to love them...I enjoyed the honesty of these two characters and the simplicity of the book.
Come read a wonderful Christmas story of Hope-forgivness and Love mixed in with a little manure under the fingernails....




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Jillian Hart "Montana Dreams"

Another love inspired 15th anniversary book, back to the McKaslin Clan

Montana Dreams by Jillian Hart


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is Love Inspired 15th anniversary issue-
Jillian Hart writes "Montana Dreams"

--more of the story of the McKaslin family, love this family.

Our story today is of Hunter McKaslin, a chance meeting in a grocery store of his ex-girlfriend and this young man is thrown for a loop. He remembers what Millie Wilson had meant to him even though he had told her they would never be more then friends. He didn't want to be a husband or father - a statement that left Millie devastated because she now knew she was going to have a little one -so she did the only thing she could and left without letting Hunter know.

Ten yrs have passed and she is back to help her Dad who has terminal cancer, he was a cantankerous man before and hasn't changed much except maybe to get worse now. Millie brings her son and stays with her Dad hoping no one will recognise how much he looks like Hunter and put the pieces together on whom is his father.
The McKaslin's are a big happy family and Millie soon finds herself right in the midst of them holding her breath that no one will learn her secret.
She and Hunter sort of dance around one another, not mentioning or wanting to bring back what was between them before.
I enjoyed watching these two and the emotions that curled around them whenever they were together, just like smoke swirling around and around.
Being the man that he was, Hunter helped when Millie needed help on the dairy farm that lost its workers because of money woes, he came to have feelings for Millie's son that he never glimpsed could be his.

Jillian writes wonderful stories of the McKaslin's and you wont want to miss this reunion of Hunter and Millie..




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Montana Skies Series by Penny Zeller book #3 "Hailee"

Hailee by Penny Zeller


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Montana Skies series by Penny Zeller book #3 "Hailee"

These books can be read alone or together, I always like to read the whole series but in this one I read books #1 & #3, each story has it own unique character with tidbits from story before...I enjoyed reading Hailee's story -thanks for adding this one to your series Penny.

Maxwell Nathaniel Adams Jr is the only son of a Boston couple but dreams of going to the rugged mountains of Montana, his dad wants him to follow in his steps and be a lawyer but his heart tells him he needs to follow Christ and wants to preach. His aunts live in Pine Haven Montana and when he hears of a pastor retiring and his chance to be their next pastor he goes to Montana.
Hailee grew up in the big city of Cincinnati, Ohio and when circumstances force she and her brothers on the streets-she resorts to begging and stealing so they have food to eat and even then they are cold and starving many times.
When Hailee becomes arrested and taken to "Sanctuary of Ptomise", to be rehabilitated, it is the worst and best for her though she didnt think so. She had not been able to take her brothers food and now they were gone and she was left searching for them, after she finished her time at the Sanctuary school. They were good to her there and she was taught to become a teacher. when she was offered a job teaching in faraway Montana she accepted and left notes all around Cincinnati for her brothers to find her, always hoping one day they would be reunited.
Montana was so different from Ohio and Hailee met many new folks and fell in love with the area.
From the beginning Nate met her at the station and became a friend showing her around the area and introducing her to everyone. They both felt "sparks" from the moment they met- could this street urchin turned teacher and a pastor find comon grounds to build a relationship on?
The community embraced Hailee and she was a good teacher for them.
I enjoyed reading this book and seeing how the brothers eventually did find their sister and Hailee thrived in her new home.
Second chances can abound when we least expect them-we must put our faith in the bigger picture and not limit what can be....




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Montana Skies series by Penny Zeller -book#1 "McKenzie"

McKenzie by Penny Zeller


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Penny Zeller writes Montana Skies series with book #1 "McKenzie"

"Desperate times call for Desperate measures"

thus, McKenzie chooses to become a mail-order bride and go from her big city Boston living to the wild west in search of her sister whom she feels is in danger. she feels desperate to find and bring her home again.

Desperate is the reasoning that prompts Zach Sawyer to let himself be talked into writing a letter for a wife..he needs someone to share his life with but more then that his adopted son Davy needs a mother.

McKenzie plans to only stay long enough to find her sister and be gone but does not plan on a little boys need for a mama that touches her heart so completely. the longer she is in Pine Haven Montana she feels more at ease and begins to like the folks in the community and Zach and his son davy become dearer.

Do you think you could leave a big city life and choose to go west to small town living? could you marry a man you didnt know?
I felt the love that McKenzie had for her sister and knew this story would be a good one to read from the beginning, I was not dissappointed. I look forward to reading the next books in the series




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"Faith of the Heart" written by Jewell Tweedt

small book with largness, you will want to give this author a read as she tells a wonderful story of yesteryear...



Faith of the Heart by Jewell Tweedt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jewell Tweedt is new author to me and writes a wonderful story in "Faith of the Heart"

This is the story of Claire who moves to Omaha after an aunt writes she needs her help..
Before that she had lived and worked as a nanny waiting for her fiance "Cal" to come home from the war, as we all know the war stretched into years back in those days and many men were killed and or missing and never heard from them again.  After four long years Claire thought this had to be the case with Cal, she knew he would never leave her on his own.  she fingered the 1/2 heart on a necklace she wore around her neck and thought..the other half is hanging on a chain around Cal's neck-they vowed never to remove them till they were together again or dead....

Claire felt she had to move on with her life after four years of waiting so headed to Omaha to make a fresh start.  Tom Maxwell, the sheriff, meets her at the station with the bad news that her aunt had been killed in an accident.  Claire was all alone but she had inherited the store that her aunt and uncle had run with living quarters upstairs..saddened but determined Claire knew she would try to live here.
She and Tom became friends as he showed her the town and introduced her to townfolks.  She is busy during the days with the store and so grateful that she has this in her life..

Just as she feels she and Tom might have a future together she is shocked to say the least when Cal shows up and wants he to still marry him.  Now Claire must decide will she honor that long-ago vow to Cal or go with this new feeling that she has for Tom.  She feels something is not quite right that Cal has shown up so long after war ending and with his name changed too..

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next that will continue this story....


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The Harmony Series by Nancy Mehl book #2"Simple Deceit"

"A Mennonite Community's way of life is threatened by outsiders"

Simple Deceit by Nancy Mehl


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Harmony Series by Nancy Mehl book #2 "Simple Deceit"

this continues the story of Gracie Temple and her move to Harmony, Kansas...

Grace lived in a big city and worked as graphic designer but when she went to Harmony after her uncle dies, she meets a different type of folks and falls in love with them and also Sam, a quite strong gentle man who is so kind and generous. She had forgot there were men like this and likes the feeling.

Grace moves back to Harmony and plans to work part-time with her work, she is assigned a new client who is a developer intent on building an upscale retirement community in Harmony, soon the Mennonite comunity begin to turn on each other and an annonymous note appears after Grace finds a baby that had been abandoned at the church the night she came back to Harmony. The note says Grace was the one that left it....
you will meet many of the community from the first book and a few new ones and watch as they struggle to keep their faith intact..
there is a winter storm that stops many in their tracks and slows down all in the community, tragedy when someone dies and another is lost in this bad storm...The blizzard forces Grace to make a choice that just might lead to the final straw between she and Sam.
this book is about Love-forgivness-mystery, I enjoyed reading




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The Harmony Series by Nancy Mehl "Simple Secrets" book #1

Simple Secrets by Nancy Mehl


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Harmony Series by Nancy Mehl #1book "Simple Secrets"

"Can Love Overcome Evil in the Mennonite town of Harmony, Kansas?"

Grace Temple never knew her Uncle Benjamin that lived in Harmony but now she finds he has left her his home and land there, Many years ago her father left the town and his brother behind when his relationship with a young woman was not looked favorably on..
Grace meets Sam soon after getting to the town and he offers friendship and to give her tour of the town.
Sam lives with his aunt and they have an orchard and huge home that Grace finds she would like to know more about.
As Grace meets all the townfolks she finds herself being pulled into their simple lifestyle though she has always thought herself a "city girl". She plans to settle the estate -sell and move back to the city but plans just dont always go the way we plan them...

Soon after arriving she finds a letter in her Uncle's Bible that tells of a death and burial and not in consecrated grounds, it explains why Benjamin lived so reclusive and would never leave his home...A Secret he wishes Grace to fix if she can...some secrets are not so simple as this one turns out to be.

I love a mystery and this book will have you wondering what is going to happen next and if Sam and Grace will have a relationship or not, many of the folks in town are suspicious of Grace and others love her and want her to stay in their midst....

You will enjoy reading as this story unfolds and we learn about the folks of Harmony -I was anxious to start book #2 and find out more about Grace and Sam and Harmony ....thanks for the mystery Nancy.




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"A Home in Drayton Valley" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Novel written by Kim Vogel Sawyer "A Home in Drayton Valley"

Fed up with the poor quality of life in 1880 New York, Tarsie Raines encourages her friends Joss and Mary Brubacher to move with their two children to Drayton Valley, Kansas, a booming town hailed in the guidebook as the land of opportunity. She offers to help with expenses and to care for Mary and the children as they travel west by wagon train. But when tragedy strikes on the trip across the prairie, Tarsie is thrown into an arrangement with Joss that leaves both of them questioning God and their dreams for the future. As their funds dwindle and nothing goes as planned, will Tarsie and Joss give up and go their separate ways, or will God use their time in Drayton Valley to turn their hearts toward him?

I enjoyed reading this story of Tarsie, she was so tired of living in a crowded dirty city and yearned for wide open spaces knowing it would be a better life. Tarsie met Mary Brubacher and her little family and fell in love with all but the husband Joss who was a gambler-a drinker-a mean tempered man who did not have a belief in God and barely tolerated his family.
Mary had been so sick and Tarsie had helped as much as she could with her herbs but when she found a booklet in the streets telling of Kansas and the lands available there she knew that Mary could get better were she to live in a place like that, so she planted a seed in Mary's heart to go on a wagon train and find a better life.
Soon Mary had talked Joss into the trip and they headed west taking Tarsie along to help with the children.
Along the way Mary's health worsened and knowing she would not live much longer she talked to Tarsie and asked her to take care of her family after she was gone-ALL her family Joss too-she asked that Tarsie love and care for them - Tarsie promised because she loved Mary so much...
Tarsie loves the Lord and prays that God will help her to love this man and his children after Mary is gone. Mary lived long enough to see the Kansas land and then died.
Do you think you could have done as Tarsie did and ask Joss to marry you so you could raise Mary's children and hope in time you would learn to love this rough tough man...this is a wonderful story telling of how a life can change so drastically when God is in the center of it. It told of the colored folks living in a vinyard near town and how predudice between blacks&whites was prevelent at the era this story was written. Joss family hated blacks and now Joss was seeing firsthand how they were just regular folks like himself trying to make a living and loving the same Lord that all did.
Will an agreement between Joss and Tarsie hurt or help them as they become closer after time spent together. Read and enjoy how a family comes together from trajedy.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing for an honest review, thank you....




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Series by Beverly Lewis Home to Hickory Hollow "The Bridesmaid"

Come Home to Hickory Hollow, Pa and meet new characters-new stories and new romance, all the ties that bind and draw the amish people together...

The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Series Home to Hickory Hollow by Beverly Lewis "The Bridemaid"

This book tells the story of Joanna -seems she is always a Bridesmaid and never "The Bride" , getting older and feeling she will soon be an old maid. this story starts out at Virginia beach where the family has gathered for a wedding and once again Joanna is a Bridemaid.
As she sits on the sand near the ocean feeling the winds blowing and watching the waves crashing to the shore she spies an amish young man walking along the shore, he soon notices her sitting and looking so lonely that he stops to talk awhile. Her first time to meet him and soon they seem like old friends.
Eben Troyer is from Shipshewana, Indiana and though they like one another it seems nothing can come from this friendship or can it?

Joanna has a sister Cora Jane and they had always been close but now another seems to take her place and the sisters drift apart making Cora Jane angry and hurt... I have grown up with 5 sisters myself and I can see where this would hurt their relationship.

When Eban returns home he asked to be able to write Joanna and possibly think of his moving to her area in Hickory Hollow when he is able to-you see his brother left their community and is living English now and Eban prays for his brothers return to help their aging parents so he can leave himself.

Do you think a relationship can flourish when two young people live in different states but feel so drawn to one another? I had doubts about this as I read the pages but did so want Joanna to have the ever lasting love of a good man. Eban Troyer was a good man and felt the need to help his parents though he yearned to pursue his relationship with Joanna.

The story tells of a great aunt who had same name as Joanna and you will find a healing for the family in finding an old wedding ring quilt that had been languishing in an attic forgotton for many years that now will bring a peace to her descendents.  Joanna is not like your typical young amish woman she is compelled to write stories but must keep it a secret because this is not something the amish allow.  til the secret is found out and two sisters wonder if their lives can ever be the same again. I enjoyed reading this part of the story and feel you will too.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing for an honest review, thank you for letting me read this story...




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Election day 2012 one day past....

So sad today when I checked to see how the voting went and the big news is
                   "He is re-elected" 
My eyes misted with tears to think how much evil is in our world that the American people cannot see how much this man has hurt our way of life.
I am afraid we are headed towards socialism and this will take America down a road that I am reluctant to go....
Our country is losing its Moral fiber and too many people just ignore what is happening,  I feel like the next four years will be more of the same and there will be No Hope.....No change for the better......and the Forward appears to be down a path of distruction.

                                               "GOD HELP THE USA"

series Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors writtien by Tricia Goyer book #1 "The Memory Jar"

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer





A Series named Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors this alone would make me pick up this book to read but it gets better, written by Tricia Goyer, a wonderful young woman who writes including God and life messages that encourage in her books. the title of this first book in the series is "A Memory Jar".

Sarah Shelter and her family moved from Kentucky to a little town in Montana, West Kootenai ten years ago and almost from the beginning she met an unusual girl near the edge of the woods who became a friend like no other. where you saw Sarah you would see Patty, they became so close that when Patty died in a boat accident it devastaed Sarah and she seemed to put her life on hold, not wanting to love so she would not lose again.
Every year a lot of young amish men come to the community to live for 6 months so they can become a resident and hunt the beautiful mountains, many a young girl has been swept off her feet by one and married before their time was up to go home again.
Sarah wants to marry and have a family but she is now 24 and well past the marring age. she has closed off her heart until she meets a young shy amish man from Ohio. He is the youngest in his family and has needed to get away from his large family that have planned his life out for him, he wants to dream his own dreams but lacks the courage to step out and just do it.
Sarah works in a resutrant-bakery and she loves to make cupcakes and many say they are the best you could ever sink your teeth into...she has a dream to have a bakery one day and to make "fancy cupcakes".
Jathan Schrock's Mem has a bakery in Ohio that she works with her sister but it is just a plain old fashioned type one-nothing fancy there. Jathan has a knack for cooking and baking and his dream is to one day change the bakery-redecorating and expanding and adding more variety to it, he likes what he sees when he meets Sarah but does not feel he is worthy to court her...
can these two find a life together, once they let down their gaurds and let Love find its way into their hearts.
Five years- Love with a young man has passed Sarah by because she has closed her heart-afraid to love and lose. I wanted Sarah to enjoy life more and to open her heart to the possibilities all around her.
I liked the way Tricia told the story of Patty and Sarah,s close friendship although she dies soon after the beginning of the book. we see her character grow from a young child to a young adult through memories of Sarah. The girls have a memory jar and they put small momentos in them so they can look at a pine cone-a feather-a small rock later and the memory of that time will close around them almost as if they were there once again ejoying that close friendship.
Several young people plan to climb one of the mountains together and it is on this trip that Jathan and Sarah finally begin to see they can learn to care for one another, I know you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did and to see love and trust being reestablished in the lives of these two. Many changes will happen just as it does for us in our lives when we accept God's gentle nudging and open our hearts to him.
I am ready for the next book in this series and the next bachelors story...thanks Tricia


Disclosure I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan/Litfuse Group for review. ”






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LIH by Anna Schmidt "A Convenient Wife"

A Convenient Wife by Anna Schmidt


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Anna Schmidt "A Convenient Wife"

Widower Tyrone Justice is stunned when the Nantucket schoolmistress requests a wedding instead But really, what could be simpler than a marriage of convenience? Tyrone's children will have stability, Caroline will have security...and neither Tyrone nor Caroline will have to risk their hearts once more. Bruised by past loves and losses, neither is ready to take that chance again. Unless a potentially deadly disaster makes them see the truth. Happiness lies within reach--if they'll take a chance on the unplanned gift of love.

I enjoyed this story of a Convenient wife, Tyrone has lost so much and his heart is bruised when it comes to trust and feeling he might be someone that is lovable.
His children want to attend the school where Caroline Hudson has a few youngsters of the elite parents on the island, Tyrone lost his wife to a fire several years ago and has been having rough time raising his three children Jerome-Eliza and Hannah. Caroline has a tender heart and wants to help the children have a better life so she takes them on as students letting them do chores and their father has said he will help with repairs around the school. Before long though circumstances change and the little family is to be evicted from the small place they have lived in near the wharfs.
Tyrome and Caroline come to an agreement that she will watch after his children while he goes off to work on a ship, soon though more problems arise for this young man as the ship does not sail and his job is lost once again putting him homeless and jobless. He feels he has no choice but to work the docks doing any and everything to make monies to send back to Caroline and does not let her know right away that he did not sail.
There is much confusion when Caroline finds the father of children she is watching right on the docks close-by. can she trust this man after he has not kept her informed, can she continue to watch his children, even though they are becoming more important to her as each day goes by. You will want to read this wonderful story of a man with empty faith and a heart that needs mending after losing so much.
Caroline is a lonely woman living in a huge house that she has renovated into a school to be able to support herself after her husband leaves her and after some time she finds out he has died when they return his possessions to her. Can this woman and this man find a way to help one another, can they even find Love along the way? I enjoyed reading the story of this man and his children learn to accept help from Caroline and in the giving of help she too receives a reason to live each day more happily.




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Love Inspired Texas Twins series by Jillian Hart "Reunited for the Holidays"

Reunited for the Holidays by Jillian Hart


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Love Inspired Texas Twins series by Jillian Hart "Reunited for the Holidays"

this is the second book I have read recently of this series and it by another author yet the story moves along with the folks I have met in Arlene James book continuing their story.. questions in that book are answered in this one, thanks Arlene and Jillian for a wonderful story of this family...


Twenty five years ago Brian Wallace and Belle Colby had been married, just young kids having kids and have them they did -two sets of twins. two little boys-two little girls, then the family was torn apart and each took a boy and a girl -going their seperate ways-never to see one another again. This had been the plan.

Brian became a medical dr and gave his services to others, after one mission he returns to find his family reunited, He has always loved Bell though he had remarried and had a son with her. She had been a wonderful mother to his children and life had been good. He lost her several years before he returned and found that the twins had found one another and his Belle had been in a coma for 6 months now going through rehabilitation.
Jillian gives answers to why the family broke up and what happens as this family is reunited once again. Happiness reigns when the girls meet men they want to marry and Jack fell in love with the girl that had no memory -which by the way did return. His brother (Identical twin brother) and he were learning about one another. Grayson has a finace when he comes to meet Jack. Two girls and two boys now all grown up with mates chosen for their lives, now "Hope" there will be a way for their Mom and Dad to reunite after all this time has passed and each has made their own way in life.
Brian is a well to do doctor and Belle is the head of a ranch that is well known. Can these two find their way back to the young love they once knew after so much time apart.
I am so thankful that I received this second book from Jillian just as I finished reading the first one by Arlene, it was not planned-just happened.
Come and read and enjoy this series "Texas Twins", talk about double your pleasure-double your fun, we have here double-double.




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Love Inspired Texas Twins series by Arlene James "Carbon Copy Cowboy"

Carbon Copy Cowboy by Arlene James


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Love inspired Texas Twins series by Arlene James "Carbon Copy Cowboy"

Jack Colby is riding his ranch deep in thought because he has learned recently that he has a twin brother (an identical one) that he never knew existed. this news was on top of his sister meeting a young woman who they now knew was her twin sister. So many changes and so many questions with no answers...
It is at this moment he sees a little red car driving so fast towards a bad curve in the road and he prays for the person inside, please slow down you will never make that curve in the road-he then races his horse over the land towards the highway hoping he can get there in time to help. He finds a young woman inside wearing jeans and a wedding veil. When she comes to she does not know who she is or why she is in the car driving so fast or where she is going. She is so beautiful and Jack seems to feel deep down he must help her.
She is rushed to the hospital and even after a stay of a few weeks and getting better in the physical sense , she still doesnt have a memory of her life and at the time to leave the hospital Jack brings her home to his ranch hoping she will get her memory with rest and relaxation. Jack thinks his sisters will be helpful also, or at least this is what he tells himself, as he just has a "gut feeling" that he needs to be around this beautiful young woman.
He is also working through a part of his life with anger at himself thinking he caused his Mom to have a fall from her horse because they had words shortly before she took a fall that resulted in a head injury that put her in a coma where she lay for 6 months. He had been so angry that she couldn't or wouldn't answer his questions about an absent father...
You will love to read this story by Arlene and find out some answers as Jack meets his twin and learns to love the sister that has shown up who is his sisters twin also..two sets of twins...an absent father and Mom in a coma not able to shed any light.




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"Second Chance in Dry Creek" by Janet Tronstad

Second Chance in Dry Creek by JanetTronstad





This is one of the Return to Dry Creek books where you get to learn little more about the characters that you have learned to love living there....Just like small town, America folks sometimes leave and then return "Home".


Second Chance in Dry Creek is written by Janet Tronstad


Gracie Stone has spent time in prison for a crime she didnt commit, now returned to Dry Creek to start living again. She has three sons that have always loved her, Jake-Wade & Tyler who are thinking their Mom needs a man in her life and a little match-making has been going on. She has a lovable dog named "Rusty" who is the only man she wants right now,Thank you very much...
Life will soon change though as one night as the wind howls outside she hears a car drive in and when someone knocks timidly on the door she knows in her heart something is wrong...after opening the door slowly and realizing a young woman stands there who is not familiar at all, before they can talk the young woman collapses and then Gracie sees the tell-tell bruises and knows this young woman has been abused just as she had been in her life in earlier years. there is much confusion as she calls a neighbor Calen who years ago had given her phone number to call him if she needed him-then quickly calls her son instead along with the sheriff.
There had been some robberies in the nearby town and now they find this young woman has been shot and a ski-mask used as bandage on her person. Many questions need answers....when Calen pulls up in his truck and rushes over he soon realizes this is his daughter that he has not seen in years.
Oh the plot thickens as after she is taken by ambulance to hospital and the others are starting to get in their vehicles to go they hear small noises like something in distress and realize their is a little girl in the womans car who had been asleep and now awakened..she is frightened of men and will only go to Gracie who instantly feels a special bond with this little one.
Gracie and her husband and Calen had all been special friends when they went to school together many years ago and Calen had cared for Gracie too but Buck ask her out first so he had backed off. Now Gracie felt she needed to help Calen with his granddaughter that he is just now finding out he has..
You will want to read this little Love Inspired book that has so much put into the story, abuse...crime..prison...trust and mis-trust...friends reconnecting and love. Thanks Janet for packing so much into this little book,but reminding us there are second-chances sometimes.




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Susanna's Christmas Wish by Jerry Eicher

Susanna's Christmas Wish by Jerry S. Eicher





I only had one bad thing to say about this book of Jerry Eicher,
It is not long enough.....

"Susanna's Christmas Wish" by Jerry Eicher

Great story about Susanna who loved Matthew and the two planned marriage and happy ever after-well at least Susanna did. As the years went by she could see that Matthew had a restless spirit and when he talked of leaving the community she knew there would be no life for them together. Susanna loved her amish life and faith and would never think of leaving it.
After Matthew left and broke her heart she slowly went to singings again and after much time she could tell that Herman Wagler a shy young man had feelings for her and after asking many times she fianally accepted. Herman came from a home that was strict amish and didnt believe in frivolity, they beleived in work and more work living a "Good life",
She knew that they could have a good life together and ask God to help her love this young man, she made the decision to marry when he ask because she had some feelings for him and knew he cared deeply for her.
Susanna came from a large family that always gathered for holidays and knew this was problem for Herman and his family.
Read Susanna's story and learn how her faith helped her live a different life then she had first chosen for herself and how God made it a better one as time went by because of her faithfulness....




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Series Plain City Bridesmaids book #1 "Something Old" by Dianne Christner

Something Old by Dianne Christner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Love is rarely Plain and Simple....

This is book by Dianne Christner of series Plain City Bridesmaids, book#1 "Something Old"

Katy Yoder is just a young girl of 10 when a little boy, Jake Byler, is always pulling her pony-tail and teasing her-she decides then -she will marry him. ahhhhh young love.
three young girls bond and become best friends that will last a lifetime-Megan, Lil and Katy -as young girls they have a dream to live together when they finish school and always to be there for one another.

Life is not all that simple though and as the years go by this young man causes much heartache when he is unsure if he wants to remain Mennonite and goes into a time of rebelling. He breaks her heart when he leaves the community and she is sure she will never be able to forgive him.
Katy settles into life after schooling is finished doing cleaning for other folks. Life is sweet when the girls rent a house that is called a Doddy house. Megan cannot move in right away so Lil and Katy have the place to themselves.
This book is about Trust and forgiveness and you will see as you read chapter after chapter that Katy has big problems with this.
Megan wants to be a missionary, Lil is cousin to Jake and tries her hand at matchmaking when Jake has a life change and comes back to the community. She believes strongly that Katy and Jake belong together.
you will want to read this book and discover waht happens for these three young girls and how Jake, after leaving his community and his religous beliefs, makes his way back....




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Lauraine Snelling's Wild West Wind series book #2 "Whispers in the Wind"

A Wild West show-a ranch in a beautiful hidden valley-two men and a woman and Gold....

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book#2 wild west Wind series "Whispers in the Wind" by Lauraine Snelling

I have not read book #1 but still this story held my interest about the daughter of Adam Lockwood, Cassie.
Her dad had won 1/2 interest in a wild west show many years ago and pursued his interest in shooting and riding. He taught his daughter from the time she was a little girl to follow in his steps. He gave her a pony that they named Winddancer who was a very talanted horse. One could say it had a lot of "Horse-sense"...To add to the enjoyment of their shows "Othello" a little dog loved to be in the act and show off.
After her parents die and the show isnt able to support the group they disband and she along with some of the group head to a valley in South Dakota where her father, Adam and a friend Ivar had years ago started a ranch where they had found some gold that helped buy the property. The men both fell in love with Mavis who was a dear friend, you would always find the three together. When Adam won the show I believe he left knowing there would be trouble down the road between the three if something didn't change....after his leaving Ivar and Mavis married and had two sons and a daughter.
Life was changing once again as Cassie came to the valley with her father's deed to his 1/2 of the ranch. Mavis was happy to see the girl and help her learn their ways but the boys who had never heard of Adam before and how their father had only owned 1/2 the ranch now had to come to terms with this fiesty woman from a wild west show in their midst.
This is a wonderful story and you will enjoy is as I did.
Cassie has much to learn and the boys Ransome&Lucas realizing the ranch is not theirs alone have to change their way of thinking too. I think Lauraine has a wonderful way of finding the heart of the story and moving it forward..Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her dreams of raising horses or will she be forced to return to her life of the past, doing Wild West Shows.




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A Season for Tending from series Amish Vines and Orchards by Cindy Woodsmall

A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall





Cindy Woodsmall has written many stories of the amish-she writes from the heart and we are drawn into the pages turning faster and faster to "feel" all the emotions of the characters, I esp. liked this new series Amish Vines and Orchards. Book #1 is "A Season for Tending"

Rhoda is the main character and she is effectionately known as "Rhoads" she loves the outdoors and her garden of herbs and vines with lush berries. She has an unusual gift that lets her grow with great success. She has another gift that lets her "Feel" things about people such as they might be in danger and her wanting to help these folks have many in the community thinking she is a witch or something worse.
Leah is a young girl with many questions in her mind and feeling she doesnt belong in her community. She stretches her boundries by reaching out to the english side and one night when things go awry she stays in the garden of Roda Byler and the two meet the next morning. Rhoda feels for Leah and wants to help her-on this day she meets Leah's brother Samuel when he comes to get his sister. It is a brief meeting yet they communicate on a level where Rhoda is worker in her gardens and Samuel has Apple Orchard that he is working with his family.
Samuel&Rhoda have much in common in their seasons of growing, yet they clash as Rhoda is so independent for a woman and likes to do things her way. She speaks her mind when maybe she should be a little quiter and listen more.
When the Apple orchards needs help Samuel thinks of Rhoda and soon between them grows a partnership to combine her canning abilities to his orchards. You will want to read this story and learn how they each must learn to give and take in their relationship.
Many characters abound in the book to fill your heart as they grow through day to day living. Samuel has a brother Jacob, Rhoda has a special friend named Landon who helps her in her gardens. Samuel has longtime relationship with Catherine who he plans to marry or will he..
she fights anything that takes Samuel's feelings for her away and his orchards consumes his being. you will be ready for book #2 as I am when the end appears.

Thanks to WaterBrook-Multnomah Publishing for this free book to read and review...




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Echo in the Darkness-book #2, Mark of the lion series by Francine Rivers

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An Echo in the Darkness-book#2 (Mark of the Lion-series) by Francine Rivers

An Echo in the Darkness: Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.
Alexander Democedes Amandinus is a young Doctor and he uses the ones from the arena that are not quite dead to further his knowlege of the anatomy. When he see Haddassah still lives after the lion attack, he takes her for his work but then finds she can be healed so he helps her. She stays with him and helps him in his work afterwards. She is now disfigured and wears veils to hide and they change her name. She is in lots of pain but her beautiful spirit never falters-her faith is strong and others can see God shining through her.
She and Alexander go to the steps of the temple and save others so he may work on them and she picks one such arab named Rashid who becomes her protector after he is healed.
Many people come to Alexander and now his helper Haddassah-to be healed.
This book will tell of Marcus journey to Palestine when he cannot forget Hadassah whom he thought had died, he now wants to find her God and ask questions. He finds many people along the way that helps him and he finally finds the Lord and opens his heart..but while he is gone,His Mother has a stroke and is paralized and becomes a prisoner in her body not able to move or speak. His sister Julia after living a life of pure pleasure and forsaking all rules finds she is left alone almost to the point of being desitute. She is dying when Hadassah chooses to go back to her and help her. All her life Hadassah has told her stories and tried to lead her to the Lord but she never really listened or did she...
Francine does a wonderful job on this book and we will see many changes in the lives of Hadassah-Marcus-Julia and thier Mother. Julia falls in love with a gladiator and we will see his story in the next book ..Atretes.




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Mark of the Lion series-book #1 "Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One Christian series that you dont want to miss reading by the author Francine Rivers -"Mark of the Lion" book #1 Voice in the Wind.

We will go back hundreds of years to the times of Jerusalem-Germania-Rome and Ephesus....
This is the story of some amazing characters Hadassah, a young girl with a giant faith- Atretes, a young man who became a slave and made into a victorius gladiator-Marcus and his sister Julia, each of their lives changed because of their choices through their lives.

I found this book hard to read at first with so much detail of wars and the battlefields. I continued reading and to my delight became caught up in the story of these characters as they made their choices and moved through their lives.
Julia was a beautiful young woman who was bent on receiving all the pleasures one can get in life, she was given to an old man as a bride while still a young girl. Within a year Her husband had died and she returned home. She was determined to have her freedom and when she met a young man and became ennamored by his charm, Her father decided she should have her wish and Marry him.
We will see as we read that Hadassah's faith and courage effected many lives as she was the slave given to Julia and went about giving of herself to everyone she came into contact with.
The games that were held in arena's in those days were for the enjoyment of the Masses, lusting on Blood of gladiators and christians thrown to the lions...shocking .
Marcus is a smart young man but he cannot accept the God that Hadassah believes so strongly in, yet he falls in love with her beautiful soul. She cannot accept him -though she falls in love with him too-because he is an unbeliever.. I wanted this couple to be together and live happy ever after but it did not happen in this book and you will be shocked by Julia's downfall and how she and Hadassah part by the end of the story...
I was given this book to read and review by Tyndale Publishing..
I hope you will take time to read prayerfully and get to know the characters as I have done and learn how Faith can sustain you when all else about you is falling apart.




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Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Libby comes to Hope island hoping to restore a once beautiful mansion and finds more then she plans on.....

A Hope Beach Novel by Colleen Coble "Tidewater Inn"

A gorgeous Federal-style Mansion built in the 1800's, Libby is in love, she cant wait to begin restoration on this old place. She and a friend have a business of restoration and this will really help their business. It is not long before she finds out that this belongs to her and she can do whatever she wants to do. Sell and make millions or keep and try to figure out how she can afford to do it. The biggest shock though is to learn the Dad that she thought had died when she was 5 lived here and left this mansion for her along with letters to read that her mother had returned not letting her see them.
Along the way Her partner becomes kidnapped and she finds out she has a half sister and brother.
This island has secrets and a mystery that you will enjoy reading and learning how Libby finds family she didnt know she had and connecting with them.
Of course there is a man in the picture - she meets Alec Bourne, Part-time fisherman-full-time captain in Coast Guard. He immediately offers his help and they become friends along the way. Can there be more then friendship, read along with me and solve the mystery on the island and meet some exciting characters.
Thanks for letting us see Tidewater Inn through your eyes Colleen...




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A Nantucket Love Story by Denise Hunter "The Convenient Groom"

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A Nantucket Love Story by Denise Hunter "The Convenient Groom"

Five hours before her Nantucket beach wedding--and on the eve of her big book launch--celebrity marriage counselor Kate Lawrence has everything in place,almost. The Gazebo has not arrived and needs to have flowers twined in and around it so Kate rushes over to check on that with Lucas Wright the builder.
While there she receives the most devastating phone call a girl can get on her Wedding day. The Groom has a change in plans and will not be attending.
Kate thinks of her life spiraling out of control(she is a control freak) and feels so many emotions rolling through her body that she is not sure she will live. Her career will be ruined,how can a woman write a book about finding Mr Right and then lose him herself....
Lucas standing nearby sees the hurt and betrayal on Kate's face and wants to smooth the hurt away-he wants to help in the worst way so he makes an outlandish remark, "All you need is a groom-I could do that for you." He has secretly cared for Kate since she moved her offices in above his studio. Kate doesnt know this and cannot believe the words she is hearing. No we couldn't do that or could we?
With only 5 hrs before the wedding much had to be done to pull this off and if anyone could do it Kate could- so Yes after considering all the consequences she says "Yes", to Lucas and they put a time limit of 1 yr on the marriage of convenience that will look like the real thing to everyone else...
I smiled a lot, cried some and cheered this couple on as they moved through an elaborate Wedding service and then the honeymoon...
You wont want to miss reading this beautiful love story of a woman that thought she could control every aspect of her life right down to the mate of her choice. She wanted to find Mr Right and she became Mrs Lucas Wright....





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Road to Kingdom series book #1 "Inescapable" by Nancy Mehl

Nancy writes well of the Mennonite community and a young woman who feels she
must leave her roots and seek a life in another state after having baby out of wedlock.
This is Elizabeth's story.....

Inescapable by Nancy Mehl


My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Inescapable, book#1 by Nancy Mehl
series Road to Kingdom

Elizabeth lived in Kingdom Kansas in a mennonite community that is in very rural area that most folks dont even know exist.
This story holds many elements, romance-mystery-betrayal to name a few.
Elizabeth grew up in a household with a very strict father whom she never felt any love from.
She trusted the wrong boy thinking he loved her (craving love and attention) being a young girl. The boy and his family left Kingdom when she found out she was to have a baby leaving her to face the future all alone.
Can you imagine what she went through living in a Mennonite home and having baby out of wedlock? She sneaked away after the baby was born and left to live her life in another state. She finally had her life moving the way she wanted, a nice job - nice apt and friends when things begin to happen that made her life spiral out of control and she felt she had to leave. not knowing where to turn she did the only thing she felt was safe and returned to Kingdom Kansas and her Mennenite family.
You will enjoy reading this mystery and how things get solved with her life starting over in Kingdom with a daughter, Charity effectionately called "Cherry Bear", but no husband.
Many folks like Cora, Noah,her Mom will support her and reading you will see how she finds her faith again..knowing that when all around you may be falling apart there is only one love that is INESCAPABLE.
I look forward to reading more books in this series and learning the stories of Kingdom's people.




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Series The New Beginnings book #1 "Living in Harmony" by Mary Ellis

Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Mary Ellis has another series"The New Beginning"
I read book #1 Living in Harmony

This is the story of two young girls who lost their parents in a terible fire and move from their Memmonite community to another state to start over.
Amy the eldest is bethrothed and would have been married soon. Her intended has a brother living in Maine where a small grp of Mennonites are starting a new way of life. He ask Amy to move with him there and then they will marry soon after and begin their lives.
Life is quite different in Maine both in climate and the rules of the group there. Amy and John are asked to wait awhile before they marry to adjust. This seems simple at first but then John is impatient and Amy finds out some things about her intended that she was not aware of.
Many living in one household takes a toll on the couples as they move in with brother Thomas and his wife Sally along with there two little ones. Amy's sister Nora is young and prone to migraine headaches and shirks many duties that she should be helping with causing for some dissension.
Thomas is a minister and Sally is shy and insecure in her position as a ministers wife, we will watch her grow in this story as she learns to do things differently. Having the two other women in her household can be a blessing at times and a curse at others.
Harmony, Maine is quite different from where they had lived before but Amy is determined to make a go of her life here. She has had Tragedy and soon learns of a shunning of an aunt when finding a quilt at nearby store that leads her to try and find this aunt even though John is not happy with her decision.
Can their love survive so many changes and the long wait put upon them-Thomas & Sally are happy to have the family there at first but can that many people live together without problems arising-another brother comes and goes from the home as he is neither a committed Mennonite or an englisher, Nora becomes interested in him as she sees his carefree attitude about things and this suits the way she thinks many times. I loved reading and seeing lives change and new beginnings take off with this family. I was happy to see a reunion between Amy,Nora and their Aunt and secrets opened up that cleared the air in this family....
I look forward to book #2 and the story of Nora as she leaves Maine once again hoping to find Love and happiness....




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Still Life in Shadows by Alice J Wisler

Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


River North is new publisher to me and Alice J Wisler a new author but I decided to look into this book after seeing it had to do with a young man leaving his amish roots,
"Still Life in Shadows" by Alice J Wisler

Fifteen years ago Gideon Miller ran away from the amish life that seemed so perfect, but it held a childhood secret that he could not leave behind and it haunts him even today...
Gideon lives in Twin Branches, N.C. a small town with some folks with big hearts.. He helps when someone calls needing help to leave their amish community and has become known as "Getaway Savior" a title that he is not all that happy with but he does like helping a young boy find himself and grow in the "English world".
KIKI is an autistic teen who enters the shop where Gideon works as a mechanic -a fact that Gideon is not happy with to begin with. He will learn many things through the eyes of this young girl. Her sister Mari works at nearby Tea room where Gideon drinks Green tea often and has noticed Mari as a young woman he could have an interest in. He has been alone too long and is thinking he needs to move forward with his life.
You will like reading this story of a young man moving from amish roots to small town living and how he copes from day to day never forgetting to help others. He must find it in his heart to forgive and move forward. Can two sisters bring a ray of sunshine into this dingy automobile shop and the men that work there? Can Gideon ever go home again?
Thanks Alice for some great characters and a great story.




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Tricia Goyer new book soon to find its way into store near you

In The Memory Jar you'll visit a small Amish community in West Kootenai, Montana, where for the past ten years, Sarah Shelter has been passed over by the young Amish men that arrive there each year. A tragedy has closed her heart ... until she meets Jathan Schrock







Tricia is the author of 30 books and has published over 500 articles for national publications such as Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman and HomeLife Magazine.



She won the Historical Novel of the Year award in both 2005 and 2006 from American Christian Fiction Writers, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Book Award in 2005. Tricia's co-written novel, The Swiss Courier, was a nominee for the Christy Awards.



In her fiction novels, Tricia writes contemporary and historical stories that feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She recreates historic wartime eras with precise detail through perseverant and comprehensive research.









Blog tour for The Memory Jar is 10/09/12 - 11/01/12 with a Facebook party on 11/01!
circle this date on your calandar and dont miss this event...



http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Seven-Brides-Bachelors-ebook/dp/B007JJSIY0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347391208&sr=1-1&keywords=the+memory+jar

Ann Gabhart's novel "The Gifted"

The Gifted: A Novel by Ann H. Gabhart


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


"The Gifted" by Ann Gabhart

This is the last book of the Shakers, a group that chose to close the world out and live a celibate life- Hands to work and Hearts to God...

I loved the character Jessamine who always seem to be wanting to find out things and had not completly accepted the Shaker world. She had been brought to the community when just a young girl under 12 yrs of age. Granny had died and she had no family so a preacher man took her to the Shakers that lived nearby knowing she would have food and shelter and folks who would care about her...
The life of a Shaker was busyness from daybreak to nightfall. They had many duties and were expected to spend their day toiling. Silence at meals, silence as they walked from one duty to another -no frivolous chatting.
Jessamine and another young sister went berry picking far into the woods one day and heard a shot that began many days ahead that would be confusing to say the least. The sisters found a young man laying wounded on the ground and Jessamine felt the need to help although she knew her community would not like for these young girls to be in the company of a worldly man wounded or not. They took him back with them and the healer in their group worked to heal his wounds and he stayed with them some days because he did not know who he was "at first".
Jessamine was drawn to his difference and her thoughts strayed from her Shaker ways...
The Shakers had a letter that had been given to them not long after Jessamine had came to them but because she was so young they kept it many years -waiting till she was older-before it was opened and she was told that she had a worldly father who had loved her and wanted to share his life with her. Now she must make decisions...
Would she stay in her safe little world or open the door to another world by accepting this Father she had not known she had?
Reading the story of Jessamine -you will "feel" her thoughts tumbling one after another and the confusion she must pull into "order". I am thankful Ann Gabhart chose to tell us the story of "The Shakers" , you will learm much from reading this story.




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When Hope Blossoms by Kim Vogel Sawyer

When Hope Blossoms by Kim Vogel Sawyer


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When Hope Blossoms by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Amy Knackstedt newly widowed is moving with her family to Kansas hoping a new start will help provide a better future for her three children. Arriving she meets her new neighbor who runs an apple orchard, Tim Roper.
Tim left his Mennonite faith many years ago never looking back and is not pleased that his new neighbors are a Mennonite family.
The children meet their new neigbor first and not under the best of circumstances....
Tim still remembers many of the things he learned in his Mennonite faith and realizes that a widow with small children living on a farm are going to need help and He will help even though he doesnt want to become involved.
Hope begins to Blossom right along with the buds on the apple trees as Tim and his new neighbors become friends...

Can they both see that there just might be more in their future then friendship, each shys away from this thought.

Thanks Kim for another wonderful amish story that shows us their faith working in everyday life.




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Stoney Ridge Seasons series-book#2 "The Haven" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Haven by Suzanne Woods Fisher


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


2nd book of Stoney Ridge Seasons "The Haven" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I so enjoyed making contact again with the Lapp family in Stoney Ridge at the Windmill farm. This is the story of Sadie Lapp who has spent the winter in Ohio and is just now returning home without telling anyone-she carries a small basket which carries a surprize that will get her and her family into all kinds of trouble.
Gideon is the schoolteacher of the area now after his sister had accident and couldnt teach-He is sweet on Sadie but is so shy and tongue-tied when she is around it is hard to start his courting days with her...
Things are different now on Windmill farm as there are a pair of nesting falcons that has the whole community in an uproar as they stream to the home to see what all the fuss is about, Will has been sent to watch over the falcons and keep a journal of their becoming parents soon-he is to band them for future watching.
In book #1 "The Beekeeper" we saw Menlo a beloved son die and give his heart to his father who had an ailing one-we saw Julia and the beekeeper form a friendship that led to marriage and they left the farm and moved to Ohio..Stern Fern came to be a housekeeper then and now is a pretty good part of the family-Amos is beginning to know that he feels more for her then "Just a housekeeper".
Sadie will find many changes at home and she will cause some ruckus with her "surprize".
Come and read all about these wonderful characters that you will soon learn to love.
Will Gideon find some boldness? Can Will who comes for selfish reasons to the farm leave with his heart a little lighter? Truths and lies will unravel as we turn the pages of this story.




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Wanda Brunstetter writes series-Indiana Cousins book #3 "A Cousin's Challenge"

A Cousin's Challenge by Wanda E. Brunstetter


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was the last of the Indiana Cousins series Book #3
"A Cousin's Challenge"

This story was mostly of Jolene Yoder who lost her hearing when the van accident happened and all the cousins were affected in one way or another.
Jolene was a teacher so this loss was devastating to her, losing the job she only ever wanted to do-she loved children and the task of teaching them about life was her one goal in life.
After the accident she went to an aunts in another state to learn how to sign and lip read...
Lonnie Hershberger had moved to Topeka Indiana while Jolene had been gone, expecting a girlfriend to follow later, but he had a horrific accident and lost his hearing and she decided not to come-He felt it was because she could not live with a man who could not hear. He decided then and there he would not get married...
When Jolene returns to Indiana to teach two children who are deaf also, she becomes involved in helping many in the community also to sign and read lips so all can communicate now that there are 4 deaf people in the community.
Lonnie works with her and a friendship soon follows.
Lonnie and Jolene have many challenges being deaf but they both work towards a better life and get past the anger and hurt...
this story also remembers Jake Beechy who had left Indiana and then returned when his father needs help and Ella Miller who felt she would always be at home and helping her mother raise her siblings after her father died.
Jake and Ella always seem to rub each other the wrong way and were constantly in a heated discussion, from little to big things they never seem to agree on anything so it was confusing to say the least when they find themselves attracted to one another.
You will enjoy reading this delightful story of the cousins and how each works through dissappointments and learns to live a fuller life with their faith. I like to read a book that has a happy ending and this one does....Will Jake stay this time and settle down? Can Ella find it in her heart to forgive and receive all that God has in store for her? Do you think Lonnie and Jolene will realize that deaf people can live rich full lives , marry and have children??
Read and enjoy...A Cousin's Challenge




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Wanda Brunstetter book #2 in Indiana Cousins series "A Cousin's Prayer"

A Cousin's Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter





Cousins and their life's journey...
this is the Indiana Cousins series by Wanda Brunstetter
book#2 "A Cousin's Prayer"

AS we continue the story this is about Katie who lost her boyfriend in the van accident and how she coped afterwards.
Katie had been swatting at a bee in the van when the driver looked backwards to see what was all the commotion and lost control and ran into a tree. She has much guilt feeling the accident was her fault for being panic stricken.
When she didn't seem to get better her parents sent her to florida to live with her grandparents and she was some better there.
She returns to her amish community a year later for a wedding of one of the cousins Lorraine. Katie has panic attacks but doesnt let anyone know about them and her family is worried because she is alone too much and very nervous about the simplest of things.
Freeman had moved to the area not long before Katie returned and he felt he could help Katie because he too had panic attacks when he was young boy so he befriends Katie.
The story has a young amish girl who constantly repeats things she has heard and becomes known as a gossip which is rare for the amish. Eunice had lost a boyfriend before because of this problem and it is looking like history is repeating itself "will she ever learn to curb her tongue"?
This is a great story of many young people who happen to be cousins living day to day lives and the problems that arise and how their faith helps them to live through thier perils...




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