The Truth about Christmas

Wow! This book hits the mark with all the commercialism of Christmas and trying to take it out of the public areas. "The War on Christmas" by Bodie Hodge dispells many of the myths surrounding Christmas and how the American culture has become almost anti-Christmas!! Learn why Christmas is so important to Bible beliving Christians. Hodge wrties "Why in America is Christ being taken out of Chritmas?...The real reason many in this culture want Christ out of Christmas is because they don't want to believe and obey the Word." As Christians we need to stand up for Christmas-one way we can do this is to read this book and then give it families and friends. And, remember to say "Merry Christmas!"

The Heart of Christmas

Sadie and Levi are two single Old Order Amish who are intent on being friends only. Soured on having a romatic relationship both agree to be friends but to the community they act like they have a promising relationship in order to have their families stop their respective match making. Can this relationship grow beyond friendship? Or will they remain friends in name only? Christmas is full of surprises in Apple Ridge in Cindy Woodsmall's new book The Dawn of Christmas. An easy read to put you into the Christmas spirit of faith, family and forgiveness.

Growing where planted

   Rhoda is working to establish an orchard in Maine along with the two King brothers and in the process create a new Amish settlement. But the process has not been easy. In this third book, For Every Season, in the series Amish Vines and Orchards  Rhoda feels the strain of an impulsive kiss from her partner Samuel King and witnessed by her beau Jacob. So much so she moves in with her English neighbours in the hopes this will help the situation between Jacob and his brother. While living there her intuition, her God-given gift, begins to build up to the point where she tells her English neighbour what she has been hearing and seeing. Will this decision back fire or does it help? Will her decision about Jacob and the orchard be the right one? With the help of Samuel will Rhoda accept her God-given gift for what it is?
Cindy Woodsmall does a wonderful job in helping the reader to get further into Rhoda's head to understand her fears, her hopes, her dreams. The sad part is that we will have to wait for the fourth book to read how the orchard does at the first harvest, what happens between Leah and Landon, and the future of Rhoda's relationship with the Kings.

Thumbs Up for Amish Who-Done-It

I loved reading this latest novel from Amanda Flower. Although it was my first time it will not be my last. "A Plain Disappearance" had the right amount of drama, suspense, romance and humour to make me a new fan of this author. 
Part of the Appleseed Creek Mystery series, Chloe Humphrey is on her first date with Timoth Troyer, who has left his Old Order Amish to be an Englischer, when  they discover the body of a local Amish teenage girl near an abandoned barn. Not only that but inside of the barn they discover evidence that Timothy's friend Billy may be involved. As Chloe begins to investigate she discovers there may be more than one possible suspect. You will not be disappointed in reading this Amish who-done-it. If anything you will become a fan of Amanda Flower.

Nuggets of Wisdom

Personal growth or a women's Bible study, "The Blessed Woman" by Debbie Morris, is just the ticket. Morris was looking for a mentor to help her on her Christian journey but did not find one. So she turned to the women of the Bible to mentor to her. What she discovered is presented in this book. Some of the women and their stories are familiar but others are not. Take the story of Jeal who kills Sisera to save the Israelites as told in Judges. As Morris writes, "our personal victories over sin and Satan affect our husbands, our children...When we conquer the oppressor in our lives, we embolden other believers to do the same." Some other topics include overcoming insecurity, finding a purpose and learning to wait. Nuggets of wisdom are found throughout this book that will help women in their spiritual and personal growth. Become the woman that God wants you to be and read this book.  

An Amish Heart
The book, A Hopeful Heart, is in a new series by Amy Clipston. Hannah Glick, an Amish widow, is still recovering from the lost of her husband when she meets an Englisher is a recent widower. Through brief encounters, each learns of the others loss and the grief that has engulfed them. But the Amish community frowns on the friendship between these two. Hannah is torn between being a moral example for her children or continuing her friendship with the Englisher. To complicate matters, she receives a marriage proposal from her Amish brother-in-law. Hannah must make a decision but what is the right path? Although the material has been covered in other books this one is a bit different in that it is dealing with a grown woman with children and the impact her decision will have on their lives, not a young woman deciding her future. If you like the Amish genre then don't miss this book in the  Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel series.

A New Classic?
I finished reading "The Point: The Redemption of Oban Ironbout" by William E. Jefferson two weeks after starting. Yes, it was a slow start since I had a hard time with writing style and the first few chapters. I plodded on gradually increased my reading time as I began to get into the story. The story has a pleasantly surprising twist to it. Goodwin and Hollie Macbreeze have traveled to the Isle of Estillyen for inspriation, for rest and to see a place Goodwin's grandfather spoke fondly about-The Point. Once they have settled at Estillyen, Goodwin travels to The Point and meets Oban Ironbout first hand-a man who wants nothing to do with the monks or the nuns. But Goodwin does not give up, even taking Hollie to visit and showing Ironbout a picture that he drew as a child of the house on The Point. The mystery behind Oban Ironbout begins to unravel but be ready for an unexpected twist. In between the visits to Mr. Ironbout the couple attends the readings that the monks on Estillyen are well known for. These series of readings called Redemption are from the Bible. The monks present them in a most compelling way. 

This is a story one reads through to get the emotional impact, then read a second time for intellectual contact, and a third time for the spiritual impact and again and again because each time you read something you didn't notice the time before. So it's worth a try. If for nothing else then to discover the mysterious twist as Oban Ironbout is redeemed.

Secrets and Love =?

Secrets abound in the second book of the Amish Vines and Orchards entitled The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall. Rhoda Byler is preparing to leave for Maine to help establish a new Old Order Amish community when she is summoned to a meeting by the district's bishop and preachers. Jacob King, her beloved, says he will stand with her but Jacob receives an unexpected phone call taking him away from the meeting and traveling with her on the train to Maine. Jacob's past is calling and continues to haunt him through most of the book until he gathers the courage to make a change. But it may be to late for he arrives home unexpected and finds his brother, Samuel, has made "a pass" at Rhoda. Now Rhoda is torn between these two brothers. Plus she continues to hear a voice and feels she must find out what message the voice is trying to telling her. Will the three be able to faithfully follow God's calling as they begin this new Amish community and business? Read this exciting book to find out.

Richard Mabry does not disappoint the reader with this latest medical thriller entitled Stress Test. The reader may feel as though he/she is under going a rigorous stress test in this fast paced, heart palpitating story.  Dr. Matt Newman is kidnapped leaving from the hospital, is bound and gagged, and thrown into the trunk of his car. He manages to escape but after eluding his kidnappers, he falls from his hiding place and suffers head injuries. He wakes up in the ICU only to learn he is being charged for murder. No one believes his story-not even his girlfriend. Someone is out to get him but why? Can his lawyer get him cleared of the charges? During this stressful time, Matt learns to trust God and lean on him. What are you waiting for-give your cardiovascular system a good work out!

"The Sky Beneath My Feet" by Lisa Samson is definitely an upside down, inside out story of one family whose lives collide in their quest for worth and love during what was to have been a month's vacation. Beth's husband must make a decision concerning a job offer and goes into seclusion during his one month sabbatical leaving his wife and sons on the outside. Beth must continue with day to day demands without her husband and as such meet a group of people called the Rent-A-Mob who make her ponder her existence. And then there is her eccentric, artistic neighbor who brings a revelation to Beth's family and others. Her brother enters the picture dragging her to the inner city to a half-way house to rescue a friend's daughter. The book has its funny moments but there are times that it is hard to follow the main character's thoughts as they seem flighty. Overall, a good book to read.
This book was received free to review for BookSneeze.  

Jane Kirkpatrick gives voice to reformer Dorothea Dix in "One Glorious Ambition: The Compassionate Crusade of Dorothea Dix." Although this is a fictional account of nineteenth century Dorothea Dix many of the events and places are based on factual accounts. Dorothea Dix aspires to fulfill God's purpose in her life but her path is not neatly laid out just as in our own lives there are numerous twists and turns. At first she believes teaching and writing are her earthly purposes. Then, an unexpected visit to a prison opens her eyes and mind to another calling as she remembers her mother. Thus her crusade becomes that of giving a voice to "those who can not speak for themselves": the mentally ill. This is an inspiring story making one stop and think what is God's purpose for my life. An author's interview and reader's guide with book discussion questions are included.  I received this book from WaterBrook Press  to review.    

Wanda E. Brunstetter's latest book in the Amish genre, Goodbye to Yesterday, is a quick read. Just as you get a feel for where the story may be going you are left hanging. Yes, this book is a cliffhanger. I hope the next one in the series comes out quickly so the suspense is short lived. Anyways, the story revolves around young newlyweds Luke and Meredith who are experiencing a crisis. Luke has lost his job but there is hope if he comes to Indiana to learn a new trade. But Meredith has a feeling that something bad is going to happen on the trip due to inclement weather. Is she right? Read the book to find out!  

A month after reading Implosion I ordered Dr. Dobson's new book called Fatherless. I am glad that I had read Implosion first since Dobson's fictional book builds a story upon some of the same thoughts expressed by Rosenberg. In Fatherless you are introduced to "transition services," the breeders, and the religious right. The year is 2042 and reporter Julia Davidson is asked to write an article about an incident at a transitional clinic that turns out to be more than she bargained for, far more ominous. Congressman Kevin Tolbert is trying to find an answer to the economic crisis and remain true to his Christian ethics. When Julia meets with her old high school friends, Angie, and her husband, Kevin, their worlds collide. Will Julia make the right choice when she finds herself at a crossroad? This is one very engrossing story with believable characters and very plausible plot!

In these tough economic times Joel C. Rosenberg writes a thought provoking book entitled Implosion. Will America survive this economic challenge? Will America survive the spiritual challenge? These are a few of the questions that Rosenberg examines with research and examples. Most compelling I found was his statement that New York was due for a natural disaster (this book was published in 2012) and here I was reading the book several weeks after Super Storm Sandy had hit New York and the eastern shoreline! Make this a top book to read in 2013. You will be glad you did.