Three Amish Romances in One

Three stories. Three authors. Three distinct Amish communities. Three young Amish women have their faith tested. "The Brides of the Big Valley" by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter offers readers Amish romances from a unique Pennsylvania community of Amish who are distinguished by their buggies - white, yellow, and black - among other characteristics. Leila Fisher is from the yellow buggy community who are more progressive. She is a loner, tending her mother's card store where she makes and sells cards. Her mother convinces her to attend a youth singing where she meets Aden Troyer from the black buggy community. Leila is hesitant to become friends with Aden after a past friendship with a boy went sour. Then tragedy strikes her family making her feel she can not be friends with Aden. Deanna Speicher is a widowed mother of a down syndrome boy. Her husband's best friend is a great help to her and her son. Eventually, they realize they have feelings for one another until tragedy strikes Elmer. And finally, Rose Mary Renno becomes friends with an English airplane pilot, Kevin, after breaking up with boyfriend because he wants to go join the English. Can Rose Mary figure out what the future holds and make the right decision? Readers will find these stories sweetly engaging and make for a quick summer read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Dream Catcher

Dreams. We all dream but for many women their dreams are put on hold for a variety of reasons: marriage, children, parents, jobs. Tiffany Bluhm in "She Dreams" encourages women to follow their dreams. Bluhm writes that women are created "on purpose with a purpose." As a woman I need to trust God and believe in the dreams he has created for me. Bluhm uses the story of Moses as the Biblical background to build her case of how God cares for each of us and wants the best for us including following the dreams He has given each woman. I found this book to be encouraging and uplifting. There is also a Bible study guide to go with the book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Abingdon Press and was under no obligation to post a review. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Discovering Life's Purpose

What a great blend of drama, mystery, family, faith and genealogy in Olivia Newport's newest novel, "The Inn at Hidden Run." Mixing in the historical sub-story with the current story-line was done in a way that did not distract the reader. Jillian Parisi-Duffy is a friend we would all love to have and her father is an exceptional being. Both Jillian and her father reach out to help Meri as she flees her family and the life they want for her based on tradition. Discover the truth hidden behind tradition and the how it helps Meri and her family. Actually, this fictional story may help others struggling with their life purpose. I cannot wait for the next book in this Tree of Life series: it feeds the amateur genealogy sleuth part of me! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Cultivating Life

We are all placemakers: those who have gone before and those who are to come. According to Christie Purifoy in "Placemaker," we can cultivate dwellings of peace for ourselves, for others, and for the glory of the One who first made us..." (p. 10). It is a journey. Follow Christie in her journey with nature and family and making a dwelling a home. This is not a book to be read in one session. No, this is a book to taste in small, mindful bites; to stop and look and smell the beauty of God's handiwork. I can see myself coming back to this book and reading it again and again. Each time picking up new insights. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Past and The Present Converge

A suspense filled, gripping novel, "Convergence" does not disappoint as thriller genre. However, Ginny Yttrup writing style does take time to get to as she flips back and forth in time with Denilyn Rossi's story: from the present to the past and back. When she adds in the story line of Adelia Sanchez it gets awkward. The story is all from the protagonist, Denilyn Rossi, point of view: her fears, her disillusions, her anxieties. Beyond the layout of the story, this book will leave the reader quickly flipping the pages to find out more. In particular, who is stalking her and what does it have to do with her past. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Sleuthing for Answers in Chicago

If you are an amateur sleuth needing a fix, then I recommend reading "The White City" by Grace Hitchcock. Set in Chicago during the World Fair of 1893, there is a series of reported missing women. Winnifred Wylde believes she saw one of the kidnappings but her father, Inspector Wylde, thinks it is only her imagination. Then she is approached by a gentleman seeking secretarial help a few hours a week. As one of the suspects, Winnifred feels this is the ideal opportunity to go undercover and discover what is really happening. Her father allows her to do so, but as a precaution and her own safety, he assigns newly hired police detective Jude Thorpe to be her bodyguard. And the reader will soon discover Jude Thorpe has his own agenda for coming to Chicago. Discover the outcome to this story based loosely on an American serial killer. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Forgiveness

I could use a forgiving jar in my life. A jar filled with insight and inspiration. To stumble upon a jar with short messages of wisdom, scripture, or quotes is what happened Sara Murray while she stays at her Old Order Amish grandparents house. In this second book in the "Prayer Jars" series, "The Forgiving Jar" by Wanda E. Brunstetter, the reader is returned to Lancaster county where both the real Sara Murray and Michelle Taylor are living with the Lapps. Michelle, who impersonated Sara in the first book, has asked for forgiveness from the Lapps, from the community, and Sara for what she did. She has gone so far as to begin taking baptismal classes to become Amish. Although Michelle at times doubts herself, she learns to take one day at a time. Only Sara has a hard time forgiving Michelle and forgiving her deceased mother for not telling her about her Amish roots. As Sara finds out it is hard to forgive. To late go of the past. But if she doesn't she may lose more than she bargained for. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.