Taste of Life

Food defines who we are in society. Think of any occasion and food is there. Hillary Manton Lodge in her book Together at the Table uses food as she examines the intricacies of human relationships. Juliette D'Alisa has opened a restaurant with her brother Nico and trying to recover from the death of her mother several months before and the break-up with her boyfriend Neil. She is opening herself up to a new relationship with sous-chef Adrian from the restaurant. Juliette feels she is moving forward albeit slowly. She is also planning on taking a trip to Paris to learn more about her grandmother and her family. Adrain is planning a birthday party for her but Juliette requests a quiet day. But this birthday is anything but a quiet event. To make matters more complicated, Juliette discovers Neil is back in town dredging up memories and emotions. The book includes recipes that are mentioned by the characters throughout the book. This book is the third one in the series "Two Blue Doors." I liked this book with the indepth characters and plot. However, I wish I had read the first two books first as it was hard to know who was who and understand what had occured in the previous two books. So I would suggest reading the series in order. This one does not stand alone, it builds upon what has already occured. Food brings us together as a society, as a family, and creates emotional ties. So try giving Together at the Table a taste today. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook.

New WWJD? Movement

I remember the "What Would Jesus Do" movement that slowly receded into the background of our society. But Harry Griffith brings the challenging theme back with a modern day twist in his book "In His Place." Meet pastor Steve Long of Incarnation Church who has just learned one of his parishners has died. The parishner's death, particularly the letter that arrives the day after his death, causes pastor Long to stop and ponder what could he have done differently. On top of this, pastor Long has a teenage son at home who is anything but cordial. The reader is right there with pastor Long as he struggles internally with his emotions and thoughts and as he pours out these thoughts and fruastrations to his atheist friend. As the week continues, Steve Long is faced with many decisions about how he will respond to God's calling as well as the members of his church as they rethink what it means to be a practicing Christian. I was moved by this story, even though it is fictional, to reexamine my own life, thoughts and actions. Is there more I can do? We can not become comfortable and apathetic to the world around us. This is a must read for everyone in the Church and outside the Church body. It is water-fountain-topic worthy! I received this complimentary copy book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Fashion Diva

It was slow going as I started to read Fading Starlight, Kathryn Cushman's newest novel. Lauren Summers is a budding fashion designer but the night her design takes the red carpet, disaster errupts, sending her into hiding. This is where the story begins to pick up spead, becoming a page turner with intrigue, mystery and drama. Lauren takes a job helping a high school theater director designing custumes for an upcoming production. Her paltry salery comes with a rent free cottage as long as she abides by the privacy policy. Across the street from the cottage lives reclusive Hollywood actress Charlotte Montgomery who is leary of the newcomer to her neighborhood. Lauren only wants friendship. Charlotte thinks Lauren wants something just as everyone in her past did. Then Charlotte's heirloom necklace disappears. Can Lauren convince Charlotte of her friendship, clear her name in the fashion world and find the necklace? Will Lauren remain faithful in her relationship with God throughout her ordeal? To say "nothing is quite as it seems" is so true in this book and in life. This book has a lot to offer in the way of a great story line but the suttle messege underneath is worth taking to heart. I received this book free to review with my honest opinion for Bethany House Publishers.

Nothing is Impossible

Mesu Andrews is a new author for me. I found her latest book, Miriam, to be a facinating account of the Isrealites and Egyptians during the time of the plagues. Miriam is Moses older sister who believes she has been chosen by God to be his messenger and being a healer/midwife. But then Moses returns and appears to be God's spokeperson making Miriam feel left out. Moses even has a new name for God- Yahweh. Miriam feels that God has changed. Moses reminds her God is constant. Andrews adds in other characters to make the story even more interesting during this time of the plagues drawing the reader into that time period. Miriam brings new life to an Old Testament Bible Story. I'm glad I gave this book and author a chance. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook Press.

Heart Mender

Meet Lucy Flaud, an Amish woman living in Lancaster County who is considered past the courting age, in Beverly Lewis' newest novel, The Atonement. Everyday is filled with volunteering in the Amish community and the English community. Her life is so busy even her twin sisters complain about not getting to spend time together. Filling everyday affords Lucy the luxery of not thinking about her past so she believes. Her father is concerned that after three years their relationship is still strained. He decides to attend a bereavement support group thinking it may help. There he meets a young English man who would like to learn more about living off the grid. Mr. Flaud invites him to his farm but what he doesn't count on is the friendship that developes between him and Lucy. This is a wonderful story about forgiving ourselves and grace. We can not earn grace by working, it's a gift. Follow along with Lucy and her dad as they share their story and learn how God is in the business of being a heart mender. I received this book free to review for Bethany House publishers.

Finding Hope During the Depression

Olivai Newport's book, Hope in the Land, is a snapshot during the Depression Era of Lancaster County, PA. of two families, the Grabills (Amish) and the Swains (Englishers). Henry Edison is working for the government to complete a study on self-sufficiency of the Amish and the Non-Amish Farm Households. His first household is the Grabills who extend to him hospitality by allowing him to stay on their farm during the period of his research. During his stay he learns more than expected about the Amish and their neighbors and how they manage during this era of economic downturn. The reader also meets Polly Grabill who feels out of place among her family, her talents do not lie in baking, cooking, tending chickens or gardening. Instead, her talent is being able to calculate facts and fingures and having a keen memory which she feels is not useful for the farming life. But Polly learns her gift is useful. There is also some rivalry among Mrs. Grabill and Mrs. Swain that comes to light during the course of the story. How each will respond is a choice that must be made. Will that choice bring them together or tear them further apart? This story is based on the fact that an actual study was done during this time period examining the households of Amish and Non-Amish. A slow, thoughtful read that makes the reader feel as though he/she are part of the storyline. I received this book free to review for BarBour Publishing.

Offer Mercy

Living during the American Depression era of the 1930s was not easy. Particularly for Neva Shilling, who along with her husband, Warren, runs Shilling Mercantile and cares for their two children. But all is not as it seems in Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest release Room for Hope. Neva, along with her two children, anxiously await the return of her husband and father from one of his monthly trips selling merchandise throughout the land. When they hear the sound of a wagon pulling into the yard they believe it to be Warren's arrival. Instead, it is the arrival of a neighboring town's deputy with three children and some furniture. Three children sent to live with "Aunt Neva" upon the passing of their mother and father, Violet and Warren Shilling. Neva is shocked, humilated, confused and hurt by what her husband has done. Neva, once an orphan herself, decides to keep the three children. She tries to keep the truth a secret from her children and the townspeople. However, living a lie is not easy. Her only friends are the deputy who begins to put the story together and along the way finds his way back to God and her neighbor, Randall, who would like to buy her out so he can expand his business but finds something worth a whole lot more. Here is a story of grace and mercy, of forgiving and being forgiven, of the prodigal son, and redeeming love. A moving story on so many levels. I think it would make a great movie! I received this book for free from WaterBrook to review and give an honest opinion.