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Comparison Shopping

   

     I found myself nodding my head so many times in agreement with the author, Kay Wills Wyma, as she talks about contentment in "I'm Happy for You." Wyma uses humor, real life experiences, and a conversation style writing that is easy to follow as she talks about our culture's obsession with comparison. I had not thought of myself being apart of the comparison game, but after reading this book, I had to rethink that thought. Wyma writes "the longing to know we belong compels us to race after anything that offers to secure our feelings of importance and worth" (p. 2015, p. 32). I particularly liked the chapter on yardstick living: how do we measure up or how do we measure ourselves to others. This book offers a way back to living a simpler, more contentment filled life.  
     I received this book free to review from waterBrook Press.

Potter and Artist

        "The Potter's Lady" is the second book in the series Refined by Love by Judith Miller. Before I read the book I did read the first one in this series. Although this second book would stand on its own, it was nice to have the background going into it. With that said, Judith Miller does a great job building the characters and setting. Rose McKay is a strong female character who knows what she wants. After graduating from design school she travels back home to live with her brother, Ewan, and his family. Ewan has been displaced from his job and is looking to purchase a brickyard with financing from his mother-in-law. Ewan and Rose visit a pottery that is for sale in the same town as the brickyard. Rose convinces her brother and his family to purchase the pottery. But problems begin to pop up from the workers and to lack of contracts. On the other hand, Rose's beau, Joshua Harkness' pottery is doing a great job at landing contracts. Rose fears the pottery may not have been a good choice until a letter arrives from her former headmistress about an art contest. Ewan insists that Rose and Rylan Campbell work together to produce a winning entry.  Will they be able to put aside their differences and create a winning entry? Will they figure out why they cannot obtain more contracts to grow the pottery business?
     This is a historical fiction set in West Virginia. There is reference to several sites well known for their pottery. I happen to live near a few of these sites and so this novel intrigued me. If you like historical fiction with romance mingled in, then pick up "The Potter's Lady."
   I received this book free from Bethany House to review.

Fire and Brimstone

     Tracie Peterson's Refining Fire, the second book in her "Brides of Seattle," reads quickly due to her character, Abrianna Cunningham. Abrianna is a feisty, outspoken young lady with a real love for God, living with her aunts who run a school for young women learning the fine art of "keeping house" and to attract a husband. She decides to open a food kitchen as her calling from God obtaining help with her adventure from her friend, Militine, who is not so sure about her relationship with God or for men, and Thane Patton and Wade Ackerman. This story follows the adventurous Abrianna and her mishaps as she tries to live for God, accepts a courtship from a possible unsavory character and along the way discovers the possibility of love in a most unlikely person. Militine, wanting nothing to do with men and her fear of the past, discovers some truths, acceptance and love. So if you want a historical fiction with adventure and romance and a reminder of God's plan for each of us, then this is the book to read. I am looking forward to part three to see how Peterson wraps up the story for these characters and one or two other unsavory characters.
I received this free to review from Bethany House Publishers.

The Ties that Bind

   When I first started to read this new book from Katie Ganshert, I found myself trying to figure out what the relationship was between the two characters, Carmen Hart and Gracie Fisher, before the author revealed it. I didn't succeed, eventually losing myself into the world of both sisters. In The Art of Losing Yourself, Gracie is a teenager on the brink of self-destruction while Carmen is everyone's favorite meteorologist who has it all but on the inside she is falling a part. Ganshert creates two strong female characters who come together to rebuild a place that both have fond memories of- a run down motel owned by their elderly aunt. As they work to rebuild the motel as a surprise for their aunt, each sister is affected differently and in turn their relationship with each other, with their family and with God is affected.

Family Secrets

Kim Vogel Sawyer has written the second book in the
Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy entitled When Grace Sings.
This book picks up with Alexa Zimmerman hosting her first guest at her new bed-and-breakfast, a reporter from Chicago. Briley Forrester has come to Arborville to examine this Old Order Mennonite community, not for its charm and plain living, but to expose their dissatisfaction with living simple. To complicate matters, Alexa has agreed her cousin Anna-Grace can stay at the inn while helping her fiance, Steven, work on remodeling their future home. As the days pass Alexa feels all her insecurities surface about Anna-Grace and tries to hide them from the inquisitive Briley Forrester. Alexa is not the only one with a secret, Steven and Briley each have one.
Sawyer brings depth to her characters as she unfolds this tangled family story. I enjoyed it immensely finding it hard to stop reading. Now to patiently wait for the final book to see how this family and its secrets are resolved with the help of God and faith.
I received this book free from WaterBrook Press to review.

Old-fashioned Story-telling

This anthology, Easter Stories from Miriam LeBlanc is a collection of short stories from a wide variety of authors whose main topic is Easter. These stories provide an old-fashioned flavor packed with values that are timeless for the generations. Authors include Leo Tolstoy, C.S.Lewis, Oscar Wilde, and Jane Tyson Clement to name several. These classic Easter tales warm the heart and feed the soul. And since they are short stories, this means you can savor each story one at a time. Something to relish amidst our busy, on-the-go lifestyles. So take a few minutes to enjoy an Easter tale that will nourish your spirit.
I received this book free from Handlebar Publishing to review.