A Healing God

    Lauren finds herself in Kathmandu with her sullen, withdrawn son, Ryan, and her zealous, missionary husband, Sam, who goes off for weeks at a time to teach the natives. This is their dream or is it. Author Michele Phoenix in Of Stillness and Storm explores the building tension between Lauren, her son, her husband and her past - reuniting with a childhood friend, Aidan, on Facebook. Written in first person the narrative goes back and forth between the present and the past as Lauren relates how she married Sam, came to be in Kathmandu, and her struggles. What one does not expect is the ending. It caught me by surprise. At first, I wasn't sure I liked the book but the more I read, the more the pages drew me in. I would have liked to know more of what Ryan and Sam were thinking through this story. It would make a great book discussion as there are many layers to this story.
I received this book free to review for Litfuse Publicity Group.

Come As You Are - Choose Real

This book is a journey. It is not a quick read but rather a discovery of choosing to be real in a messy world as you follow Bekah Jane Pogue in Choosing Real. Society tells us women we need to have a “House Beautiful,” be super skinny, and be the perfect mom and coworker.  But God wants us right where we are, the real us, in an authentic relationship. Pogue writes, "Truth brings freedom and cements my identity. And truth can come only from the Creator (p.114).”  The book covers topics like communication, pain, loneliness and unworthiness using many personal stories from the author’s own life. It took a while for me to get use to the author’s writing style but then I was reeled into the story. The journey to discovery of the real you and your relationship with God will take time so plan on rereading this book many times to gather all the nuggets of truth and wisdom it offers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Angel

 A delightful book, The Angel of Forest Hill, is based on an young, Amish girl sent as a mother's helper to a West Virginia community of Old Order Amish and an unknown family. Upon her arrival, Rose Kurtz realizes all is not what she expected. Instead, the mother has passed leaving behind a newborn, two young sons, and a mourning husband, Joel. To stay as a mother's helper and being single is not appropriate so Joel's father convinces him to marry Rose. And so begins a very nontraditional, Amish marriage. Can Rose over come her shyness and let Joel know how she feels? But then she finds out the Bishop is asking for an annulment since four years have passed. Will a trip home help Rose figure out what she is to do? A beautiful, Christmas love story!
Cindy Woodsmall delivers another wonderful story.
I received this book free to review for Blogging for Books (WaterBrook).

Icy Hot

  Nancy Mehl presents a new series, Defenders of Justice, with her first book introducing the reader to U.S. Marshal Mercy Brennan. In Fatal Frost, Mercy is recuperating from being shot while on duty. She carries a lot of baggage from her past but one bright spot is that her childhood friend  remains her best friend and a cop. Her boss finds out about a plot involving one of St. Louis's powerful gangs and a powerful drug cartel who have targeted Mercy after killing her father. Not knowing who to trust, Mercy's boss sends her old partner, Mark St. Laurent, and her friend, Tally, on a mission to take Mercy out of town and hide-out to protect her. In a life and death mission, the three struggle to survive when they realize the drug cartel is on to them. This is a fast paced read that will keep the reader on the edge till the last page! The story may take place during a snow storm, but it packs some heat as Mercy realizes the role God is playing in their lives! Fans of Nancy Mehl will not be let down with her latest novel.

I received this complimentary book from Bethany House to review and give my honest opinion.

Unending Faith

Meet Geesje de Jonge who comes to America from the Netherlands fifty years ago with her mother and father to escape religious persecution in Lynn Austin's Waves of Mercy. During that time she has experienced many trials and tribulations and the town has asked for an account of those early years to celebrate Holland's Semi-Centennial anniversary. The reader goes back in time, experiencing the events and emotions as Geesje recalls those fifty years. A family friend, Derk, is most interested in reading the account as Geesje writes her story. But Derk Vander Veen has his own story which he shares with Geesje of a young, socialite who is staying at the hotel where he works. Socialite Anna Nicholson is staying at the hote in Holland, Michigan after breaking her engagement. She is soul searching after discovering a small church in Chicago that draws her in and she continues to question the nightmares that she experiences. Austin weaves these two stories together for intriguing, heart wrenching read. Both ladies give the account of their stories, yet the how the two stories become one is most welcome surprise! I received this complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.

Recipe for Success

There have been many books written on success, but this is the first one I have read giving humility a lead role in achieving success. Pat Williams' book, Humility: The Secret Ingredient of Success, packs alot of wisdom inside its covers. Williams uses real people and real stories to illustrate how humility versus arrogance played a role in the outcome. His stories include Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Tiger Woods, Dan Price, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard and many more. Williams writes "Humility is a gift we give to other people. Ironically, arrogance makes us seem small and pathetic. Humility is what makes people great" (p.41). There were many times I stopped short, paused, and reread what was written "thinking that is me and I thought I was being humble - not arrogant." Business person, church leader or volunteer, school teacher, coach, mother, father, or whatever your role, this book is a must read. If true humility was practiced daily, what a difference would be seen in our country! I received this complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishig in exchange for my review.

Pioneer Spirit

Eleanor Morgan escapes to America from England as an indentured servant when her money and letter of recommendation are stollen. She is taken to the backcountry of Carolina thinking she is to be a caretaker for a small child. But upon arrival she is forced to marry a man she has never met, Samuel Heath. He takes her back to his cabin and land far from town where she is to tend his daughter. Eleanor must learn to survive in the wilderness. Samuel must learn to trust with the threat of war and betrayal. Both must learn to depend on God. The author, Michelle Griep, attempts to capture the ruggard spirit of the early pioneers who settled this country in The Captive Heart. Although it is wonderful read, the main storyline is not new. The male protagonist is blacklisted while the forlorn female protagonist struggles to maintain her integrity. As always though love triumphs. Even so, the author did a great job of writing this story with realistic characters. I received this complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Great Story Telling

This is story telling at its best! Cindy Woodsmall's anticiapted second book in the Amish of Summer Grove Series, Fraying at the Edge, is intense, fast-paced, and thrilling as a rollar coaster ride. Even Ariana Brenneman mentions how her life resembles a rollar coaster ride as she tries to learn to live in the English world after being up-rooted from her Old Order Amish life for a year after being told her biological parents, Brandi and Nicholas, are English. Meanwhile, Skylar Nash, has been told her biological parents are the Brennemans, not Brandi and Nicholas, where she must live for a year or go to rehab for her drug addiction. Skylar, desparate for drugs, decides to work at the Brenneman's cafe while she waits for her boyfriend to come. The emotions that these two go through is intense but each learn more about themselves and others around them. This is a great story you don't want to miss. I hope the third book comes out soon. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook's Blogging for Books.

Political Intrigue

James Holt, a rancher from Dakota, is summons to the American Zone of the Panama Canal in 1909 in Sigmund Brouwer's latest historical novel, Saffire. This novel is part mystery, part political intrigue, and romance all in the historical setting of Panama. James Holt's dry humor and Inspector Miskimon, who is quite orderly, provide interesting conversations throughout the novel as Holt tries to unravel the mysterious disappearance of a young girl's mother. Saffire is close in age to his own daughter and her spunkiness at finding her mother endears her to him. But as he begins to ask questions he realizes there is more going on below the surface than a missing woman. This book started out slowly and I almost stopped reading it, however, the more I kept going, the more drawn into the story I became. Brouwer uses actual historical figures and places in this novel making for an interesting read. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook's Blogging for Books.

Firm Foundation

In The Artisan’s Wife, the third book of the series “Refined by Love” by Judith Miller, the reader is introduced to Ewan and Rose’s sister Ainslee McKay. Ainslee discovers her twin sister, Adaira, has eloped and left her to fulfill the obligation of running the newly purchased tile works in Weston. Ainslee and Adaira have always done things together. Now Ainslee must leave her family striking out into unknown territory of running the new business by herself. Ewan and Ainslee make a deal that he will try to find a buyer while she makes the business profitable. She hires Levi Judson to work at the tile plant and to put his artistic abilities to work in creating mosaics on the tile. As time passes a friendship develops between them that can easily be broken by a secret Levi holds. Ewan finds a buyer for the tile works, now Ainslee must decide if she wants to pursue the mosaic tiles showing her confidence and faith in Levi, or give up the business and go back home where she is most comfortable. Both Levi and Ainslee must learn to trust God through the good and the bad. Overall, it was a nice historical romance to read and discover what the McKay family was up to after the first two books. My only disappointment was that Adaira was left out other than occasional mentions of her. I received this book to read for free to give my honest opinion from Bethany House Publishers.

Sapphire Beauty

"A Beauty Refined" is the second book in the Sapphire Brides Series by Tracie Peterson. I really enjoyed the first book in this historical romance series and was not disappointed by this one as the story revolves around the Yoko Sapphires. Count Frederick Von Bergen is traveling to American to purchase some sapphires for the Dutchess along with his daughter, Pheobe. But there is much Pheobe is not aware of during this visit or who her father really is. Von Bergen has told his daughter that her mother died ten years before in a ship wreck. Imagine Pheobe's shock when she runs into her mother at the hotel she and her father are staying at in Helena, Montana and that she has a younger brother. During her stay at the hotel, Pheobe meets Ian Harper, the local lapidary, who soon becomes a close friend. But Ian can not abide by telling lies. And he soon discovers that is what Pheobe's life is based on. Can Ian and Pheobe find freedom from the lies that surround their lives? Can Pheobe understand where true freedom comes from? A fast read because you become so caught in the story one can not put the book down. The author does a great job with realistic characters and storyline. Looking forward to the third installment in this series. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Dreams, Hope, and Love

In the Land Rush Dreams Series by Vickie McDonough, the reader meets a grown-up Sarah Worley dreaming of owning her own land and a house in Sarah's Surrender. She is not interested in marriage as her good friend Luke McNeil discovers. Sarah views Luke only as her best friend. But Luke is determined to win Sarah over. So when she decides to participate in a land lottery held in El Reno Luke follows along. Sarah, Jack Jensen, her adopted brother, and Luke all enter into the lottery. Her dream begins to come true when she wins a plot of land in the lottery and is able to begin building her house. But along the way mishaps occur which make her question if she is following God's will for her life and questioning her dream. Especially when others begin telling her she is in love with Luke. It was nice to revist with Sarah now that ten years have passed since she ran away from the bordello her father owned with Jo. Although a nice read alone, I would recommend reading the first two books to get the flow and acquainted with the characters. I received a compementary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Deliverance

Meet Delilah in Angela Hunt's third book of the Dangerous Beauty Series. This is a fictional account of the Biblical Samson and Delilah. Hunt does a great job with building believable characters in her newest book. Delilah is a beautiful young woman living with her mother, step-father and step-brother in Gaza, enjoying a previleged life. But all changes with the sudden death of her step-father. Her step-brother, Achish, becomes head of the household, selling Delilah's mother into slavery and abusing Delilah. When Delilah escapes she vows to get revenge on the man who took advantage of her and free her mother. First, though, she must find a way to survive. And then she hears about Samson, Judge of the Isrealites... Hunt notes "Samson and Delilah were not heroes or villains.They were people...because people, with all their flaws, are what God uses to work His divine will (p. 341)." Enjoy this fast paced story of a man devoted to God and a woman devoted to revenge. Two people with a story whose paths cross to fulfill God's will. I received this book free to review for Bethany House Publishers and give my honest opinion.

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.

Yogo Sapphire

An old west, gold mining story, A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson, tells of Emily Carver and her father living in Yogo, Montana. Emily dreams of escaping the harsh lifestyle of moving from mining camp to mining camp as her father mines for gold. Her father gets an offer to sell his claim but he refuses. Mr. Carver believes his treasure is just around the corner. While on a visit to Utica, Mr Carver meets a young geologist working for the government, Caeden, who is headed to Yogo, Montana. He invites Caeden to stay with him and his family. Although Caeden is intrigued by Emily, his painful past won't let him dream of marrying. But through hardships, poverty, and danger, God is with the Carvers and Caeden-changing their lives in the process. Intrigued by this story, I looked up sapphires as this gemstone plays a pivotal role in the story only to learn that Yogo, Montana in 1894 is actually where they were found. This gemstone was even found by a man named Jake Hoover who in this story is a friend of the Carvers. The blue pepples were later called Yogo sapphires. I found this bit of history to be interesting. So if you enjoy historical romance then this is a great novel to read.

I received this book free to give an honest review from Bethany House Publishers.

Forever Love

Nick Vujicic is back with another story about his life and this time his wife, Kanae, joins him. Love Without Limits is the remarkable story of how Nick and Kanae met, their courtship, and eventually their marriage. The reader is also introduced to Kiyoshi, their first-born son. Nick tells of his struggles in relationships as a teen and later as a young adult. His dream of finding his true love. And his relationship with God. Nick and Kanae offer pointers about the courtship process and planning a wedding. For new parents, the chapter on a parent's survival guide for that first year after the birth of their baby is most noteworthy. Highly recommend this book for those seeking a relationship, starting a relationship, planning a wedding, and/or new parents. Or if you are not any of these like me, I would still recommend this book for the inspiration it provides.

, I received this book for free to review for Blogging for Books.

Belief

The underlying story has been told throughout the ages, but the perspective is a fresh take on this age old story that is the foundation of Christianity in Angela Hunt's new book Risen. This novel is based on the movie with the same name - Risen - by Paul Aeillo and Kevin Reynolds

. Clavius is a Roman Tribune in Rome's Tenth Legion stationed in Jerusalem. This is his perspective of what happened during the passover, Jesus' crusifixation, and after his burial. Clavius is a devoted follower of the god Mars. So when he is sent to investigate what happened to the body of Jesus, the reader is given an inside view of his thoughts, his inner turmoil, and his final decision: "By the time I had finished relating my encounter with the Nazarene, my next step became clear: I would return to the Antonia Fortress and testify truthfully when questioned..."(2015, p.306). Also, interwoven into the story is the story of a widowed Jewish woman, Rachel. Rachel relates her secret and her quest to discover if Jesus is the true messiah. This is a fictional account what could have occurred during this time period so Hunt has taken a few liberties for the sake of the story. I found the story rivoting and fast paced. Now I want to see the movie to see if it is just as gripping. I reviewed this book from Bethany House Publishers for free to give an honest review.

Irish Dreams

Intrique. Drama. Strong female protagonist. These are the words that come to mind when describing Susan Anne Mason's second book in the "Courage to Dream" series A Worthy Heart. Maggie Montgomery is newly arrived in America from Ireland leaving behind a broken relationship. She plans on a fresh start although her family believes this trip is only a visit with her brother, Rylan. To her surprise, and dismay, her former beau, Neill, has followered her to America. In the beginning, she tries to keep this from her family. Into this storyline, Mason weaves the story of Adam O'Leary, newly released from prison and brother-in-law to Rylan. Needless to say, Adam is attracted to Maggie but feels it is a loss cause due to his past. There are a few other family members whose stories are also woven into the main story. This is a story of forgiveness, unconditional love, and self-worth as a person. A wonderful historical, Christian fiction that draws the reader in and keeps you wanting more. I look forward to the next installment. I received this book free to review for Bethany House and give my honest opinion.