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.

Baseball and Life

I do not play baseball nor am I follower of baseball. Yet for some reason I was prompted to read The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny. I figured I might be bored but was pleasantly surprised as Matheny captured my attention holding it throughout the book. Yes, there were some stats and explanations about baseball I did not appreciate as some baseball fans, nevertheless,
so much of what he wrote held truth I could relate to as a parent. He talks about eight keys that lead to success: humility, leadership, confidence, character, faith, teamwork, class and toughness. This inspirational story can teach us "about winning on the field and in life." I think that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Making Choices

Cindy Woodsmall's latest Amish novel is A Love Undone. Jolene Keim, a member of the Old Order Amish, goes the planning of her wedding to attending the funeral of both her parents and taking on the guardianship of her younger siblings. Her future husband is not ready to take on such a large responsibility thus the wedding is called off. Ten years pass for Jolene when a horse trainer enters her life. However, Andy Fisher is not an eligible bachelor- he is a grass widower. This is the background upon which the story grows.
I enjoyed the plot and the depth of the characters but I think the ending was a bit hurried with everything tied up too neatly.
I received this book free to review from Blogging for Books.

Page Turner

  Kim Vogel Sawyer latest book, When Mercy Rains, captured my attention immediately. So much so that I had a hard putting the book down. Needless to say I read it in record time!! We are introduced to Suzanne Zimmerman being sent away from her family and her Old Order Mennonite community by her mother because she is in the family way. Then we skip ahead twenty years when Suzanne receives a letter from her brother asking her to return home to help care for their invalid mother. But the family does not know about Alexa, Suzanne's daughter. Thus begins the inner conflicts of going home or staying put in Indiana. Alexa wants to meet her extended family unaware that they do not know of her existence. They go home to Kansas. This is where the story begins to unfold between mother and daughter, between old loves, and between family: bitterness, resentment, secrets. Can this family find healing? Or is it too late? The twist at the end only leads one to want to read the next part in this new trilogy.
  I received this book for free to review from WaterBook Press.