Leaving Lancaster

When Esther Gingerich left her Amish community in Lancaster, PA during her rumspringa, with the love of her life Samuel Fisher, the rest of their family expected them to return. Yet they didn't. Instead, they headed for a completely new life in San Francisco and would later move to Seattle where life again would take an unexpected turn. In this case, Samuel would be drafted into the Vietnam War and would never be found again. He would remain forever Missing in Action, just like Esther and Samuel did when they left their families.

Now many years later, Esther receives word from her ailing mother, Anna to return home to help take care of her before the rest of the family sells the farm and moves to Montana to begin a new life all over again. If Esther can only find a way to tell her daughter, Holly, that everything she has believed up to this point has been a complete lie. How funny that she would fail to tell her about her Amish upbringing while running an Amish Shoppe? Or that her grandmother is still living when she was told she was dead? How can she ever find a way to return home and expect Holly to come with her?



In the novel, Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd, Esther has to find a way to return home and face up to the past she's not only been lying about, but also running away from. Holly has a right to get to know the family she has hidden from her including many grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. But will it be as easy as believing that the Amish are so easy to forgive her, or will there be no place for Esther and Holly to return to. Just how sick is her mother anyway and why does she want them to come home now? This is truly a story about forgiveness and what the seeds of bitterness will grow if we allow them to continue uninterrupted in our lives. It is a wonderful story of starting new chapters in our lives and learning the importance of family, of putting aside grudges and accepting forgiveness.

I received Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd compliments of David C Cook Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review. Too often we can't see beyond our anger and resentment to see what we are missing if we are willing to let go and forgive. This novel does the perfect job at that through the alternating chapters that Esther and Holly share in this Amish fiction, conveying for the reader just what each of them in going through as they work towards resolving their own issues. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion and loved how the story finally ended.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Leaving Lancaster by Kate Lloyd

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To Heaven and Back

"Many have said that my experience is remarkable. What I find more remarkable, however, is how readily many people in our society believe outlandish and unsubstantiated urban myths and conspiracies (Pop Rocks and Coke, JFK assassination, AIDS is man-made, etc.), yet disregard thousands of personal and consistent testimonies of miracles and near-death experiences from people throughout all cultures and religions." (pg 205).

Dr. Mary C. Neal, an orthopedic surgeon, thought she had an understanding of heaven, angels and Jesus being a believer from a young age, but nothing would prepare her more, than dying and getting first hand knowledge that everything she ever believed was not only true, she had to tell others. That is precisely what she did many years later after her children had grown from when she first drowned in a kayaking accident in Chile.

That is the one significant thing in talking with anyone who has died, gone to heaven and returned, they never forget the precise details no matter how long it's been. Unlike trying to recall a wedding or even the birth of a child, the longer you wait in between talking about it, some of the details fade. Mary Neal felt God was now telling her to take what she experienced and not only share in through her words in a book, but even now she incorporates that into the care of her patients as well.



In the novel, To Heaven and Back, Mary C. Neal describes her life leading up to her death and what happens long afterwards, sharing with the reader how many of the events could be described by some as luck, good fortune or karma. However when you connect the dots in all these circumstances, it becomes clear, that God's divine hand was orchestrating it all and in fact continues to do so. Not much time is spent on her time in Heaven since she wasn't allowed in, but merely got up to the entrance point, but what lives on even now in her life, continues to impact those around her.

I received To Heaven and Back compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest opinion and truly believe what Mary experienced is real. To doubt her word, would mean you had more information into what happened than she did, and I would find that hard to believe. Mary isn't hoping to make a profit off her experience and is in fact donating portions of the sale of this book to many non-profit charitable organizations you would find on her website.

The one thing that remains consistent for me, in reading her story is prayer to God was invaluable not only in the difficult roads in her life, but offering up thanksgiving and gratitude in those prayers as well. Being a huge believer in the power of prayer, I LOVE how simply stated Mary's experience truly was and gives me hope that we will live a long eternal life after we simply finish our jobs here. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion and it's a great source of comfort to those wondering if life exists past this one besides the Bible and who may be grieving.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

To Heaven and Back by Dr. Mary C. Neal

To learn more about Mary C. Neal, you can visit her website by clicking here.

Cottage By The Sea

Two squeezes meant simply that I love you; three squeezes in return meant I love you too! That was the way things were communicated silently in the Bryce family, only Erin really needed this confirmation from her father which was always left with wanting more.

As Erin Bryce and her best friend Sharlene prepare for the launch of their new wedding planning business, The Happiest Day, she receives a phone call from her dad's wife, Delores telling her that he has had a stroke. Erin immediately leaves for the small beach side community of Moss Cove in Oregon to see how her father is doing. When he appears normal and back to the old self she remembers, she books a flight home and begins to prepare herself for her new business venture but also a future wedding for her son Jordan.

As Erin waits for her father and Delores to show up for the day of the wedding, she tries hard to keep her emotions in check. She blames Delores for keeping her father away and making all the decisions for him. When the day comes and goes with their presence missing, she phones her father's home and learns they are still there. Ready to unleash all her anger, Delores informs her that her father has suffered another stroke and this time he won't be returning back to his old self anytime soon.

In the latest novel, Cottage By The Sea by Robin Jones Gunn, the reader is drawn into the story between a love that is needed by both Erin and her father, Jack. Now with a stroke removing his ability to verbal communicate, Erin and Jack have to rediscover a way to connect after so many years and reestablish the love that both of them need before its too late. This is a timeless story of one of the great needs I believe a woman needs to have in her life, the love of a father and Robin does such a wonderful job at completing this through her novel. I was moved to tears by how well she made me feel for both Erin and Jack's needs.

I felt the frustration that Erin had toward feeling the care of her father was dumped on her shoulders while everyone else seemed to have a life to return to; her anger at Delores when she learns that Delores simply can not stay with someone who requires this type of care; and her crushing need to find a way to fix things between her and her father as communication between the two have a small window that seems to be rapidly closing.

The parts of the book I was immediately drawn to are the setting for the story, being a long time resident of Orange County in California, the reminders of the strawberry fields in Irvine, the John Wayne airport and the poetic way that Robin leads you into the story and magically paints a picture so well, you know it's real. Here's one of my favorite lines from the book, describing the ocean outside her father's cottage:

"Erin could now recognize the waves' varying sounds. She knew, just by listening to the intensity of the waves' roar through the open kitchen window, when they were crashing against the rocks and sending a spindrift into the air. She also knew when the sea was at rest, simply breathing in and out, sending the waves rolling to the shore and then curling them back. Today the sea was feisty. With a curled-up fist, it hurled the white-capped waves onto the shore. The salty avengers tumbled far up the sand before receding in haste and preparing for their next pitch. (pg 177)."

I received Cottage By The Sea compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster Publishers for my honest review. This is such a beautiful book to describe the love between a father and daughter and one that Robin shared through her own personal experience. This one will tug at your heart strings and reel you in with all the emotion from words found on the pages. It truly will be unforgettable for me and one I will treasure. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and one that has found a permanent place in my library.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can purchase this book , please click on the links below:

Cottage By The Sea by Robin Jones Gunn

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The Inquisitor's Key - Giveaway and Review

What would you consider the greatest archaeological find? The cup of Jesus from the last supper, the nails from His crucifixion? The crown of thorns from his head? The true Ark of the Covenant? What if you discovered what appeared to be the actual bones from Jesus Christ? How would that impact the world if proof could be given, that they were real? What if they actually held supernatural powers?

Such is the premise behind the latest novel from Jefferson Bass, The Inquisitor's Key, when a trio of experts, Dr. Bill Brockton, a forensic anthropologist, Miranda Lovejoy, his assistant, and Stefan Beauvoir, a colleague of Miranda's happen upon a discovery beneath the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, France and uncover what appears to be the bones of what could be Jesus Christ. The identifying marks on the wrist bones, ankles and ribs appear to coincide with what we know of his death. What would the impact be on the world if in fact these could be proven to be genuine? What would some people do to ensure that this discovery remains buried beneath the earth?

This is the 7th novel in the Body Farm series and a first for me when I read this one. The story line toggles between present time and in the 14th century as the reader begins to unravel clues to determine what relevance this new find of buried bones will do for the world. Could it be that a great hoax has been created as a way to move forward certain religious teachings? What would the implications be if this was discovered and shared with the world? I guess you'll have to pick up this novel and find out for yourself.




I received The Inquisitor's Key compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. Being a huge history fan as well as a follower of Jesus, I had mixed interests in seeing where this one might be headed, but it does cause you to wonder just what makes us believe certain artifacts may be real or have some been a huge lie all along. I was interested in where this was headed and some points of the novel drag on a bit without an apparent reason for the delay. However, if you can endure this one to the end, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I think the author researches their history well and this book is really geared for that fan base over a mystery genre. I would rate this one a 3.5 out of 5 stars and really kept me guessing along with the characters just what they would ultimately discover in the end.

For more information on The Inquisitor's Key, Jefferson Bass or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

The Inquisitor's Key by Jefferson Bass

Thanks to the generous folks at William Morrow, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog and here are your guidelines to enter.

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart and leave me a comment.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US mailing address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment telling my why you'd love to win a copy of this novel and don't forget to include your email address in the comment box below. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway when it ends on June 25th and will also post it on my Facebook page, Reviews From the Heart as well.

Angel Eyes

Just how far would you go for the ones that you love? Would you be willing to lay down your life for theirs? How about if you just met? How long would it take and just what is the value of a life?

Brielle Matthews is about to find out when she returns home after the death of her best friend, Ali and the ongoing investigation into her death in which Brielle feels personally responsible for. She feels this is a death she could have prevented. She had seen the signs, the fear, the long-moments in between visits and phone calls and of course the bruises all over her body. Not to mention the fact that her new boyfriend, Marco seemed to like to keep her all for himself lately. Now it's too late but how can Brielle expect to find a way to move forward in her life when fear and despair are keeping her captive.

Jake is the new kid in school this year and Brielle finds every single girl in school wants to meet him. Fortunately she has him in two of her classes and he seems to have a special interest in Brielle. Maybe it's that smoldering look in his eyes or perhaps it the incredible heat that comes off him whenever they are near one another especially in the middle of winter and somehow she is drawn to him in a way she can't explain. She soon finds herself confiding in him with her issues and spends her free time getting to know him. It turns out he is an only child and is being raised by his guardian, Canaan after a tragic childhood himself. It seems that Jake and Brielle are destined to be together and soon he will tell her just why he has come into her life.

In the darkness, evil waits in the town of Stratus, Oregon. An evil that wants nothing more than to control and rule, but since humans are hard to find with special gifts, Damien searches for a way to satisfy his hunger. When he learns that Jake has the gift of healing, he soon plots for a way to kidnap him and lure him away from God and into what he has been planning. Only his guardian angel stands guard to protect him at all costs and soon the battle lines will be drawn and both human and angels will be called to war.

In the debut novel, Angel Eyes, by Shannon Dittmore, the reader is immersed in the story of two different worlds, one seen and one not seen. The world of humans and how angels and demons can work between them. In this story we are given a rare glimpse into the roles angels play in the lives of Brielle and Jake and how the demons will stop at nothing to kill either of them. What purpose Jake and Brielle have in coming together is explained in this wonderful new series that enables them to use a special gift from God to help battle against the enemy. For those of you that love This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, then I know you will love this new series of books.

I received Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittmore compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and can't wait to read the sequel Broken Wings coming out soon. I love stories that combine spiritual warfare in the unseen world parallel with our own human world and this one does an outstanding job at drawing the reader in. This is both a love story and an action adventure from a Christian perspective. The writing is astounding, poetic and lyrical in how she describes the unseen world from God's eyes. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and now have another new favorite Christian author whose writing speaks to my parched soul.

For more information on this book, the author and where you can pick up this book today, please click on the links below:

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

You can find more great reviews from the Angel Eyes book tour by clicking here.

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Suggested Title: Win a Nook Color from Shannon Dittemore (@ShanDitty)! "Angel
Eyes" Giveaway and Facebook Party {6/26}
Celebrate with Shannon by entering her "Angel Eyes" Giveaway and connecting with
her during the Author Chat Party on 6/26!




Find out what readers are saying here.

One "angelic" winner will receive:

• A Brand New Nook Color


• A copy of Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at
noon on June 25th. Winner will be announced at the "Angel
Eyes" Author Chat Facebook Party on 6/26. Shannon will be hosting a book
chat, testing your trivia skills and giving away some great prizes!



So grab your copy of Angel Eyes and join Shannon on the evening of the June
26th for a chance to meet Shannon and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the
book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP
today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you
on the 26th!

Isabella Protector of the Last Dragon

Isabella Treehorn, a 12 year old girl from several different ethnic backgrounds seeks to find herself and her true calling. Little does she know how much her life will change once she discovers her hidden secret and a powerful Jade Amulet! The fate of the world will rest on her shoulders along with her rag-tag group of family and friends to save a mythical being and the fate of the world as we know it.

The storyline that M. Anthony Phillips is very compelling and could be a definite top seller if the author really takes the time to go over all of the spelling and grammatical errors that occur throughout the book on several occasions. I would have to stop, re-read sentences to make sure I understood the words that might have been spelled correctly, but used wrong in the sentence. There are far too many spelling errors that keep my focus off the storyline, and on the errors I would find while reading.

I received Isabella, Protector of the Last Dragon compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I felt that the story, characters, and content could be a great read. However, due to the frequent miss-spelled words through every chapter I could not concentrate on the overall story. I rate this book a t 2 out of 5 stars.


For more information about this book, the author and where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

Isabella, Protector of the Last Dragon by M. Anthony Phillips

Short-Straw Bride

No one can honestly say that they hadn't been warned. Beyond the signs and rumors, if you set foot on Archer land, they would know about it. Men haven't made it back who have ventured so far on their own before, and the few that have come back know not to ever set foot there again. However when she was a young girl, Meredith Hayes, had a school bully toss her tin lunch pail down a hill on Archer land. Fearing her parents wrath more than any Archer rumor, she defied the odds and went after it. Beyond the tall and thick trees she got a glint of the tin pail and was on her way down the hill when she heard the barking of a dog.

Remembering the rumors that their dogs have been trained to kill trespassers, Meredith runs for the property line, only to wind up captured between the steel jaws of an animal trap. When Travis Archer spots her, he is instantly drawn to her with compassion and rescues her, returning her home after she broke her leg in the trap. Now years later, Meredith has spent many years dreaming of her hero, Travis, rescuing her from the dangers in her dreams and hoping one day that those dreams may one day come true.

She finds herself being encouraged to marry Roy Mitchell, who will help save her Uncle's lumber mill if she agrees. But she doesn't love him or harbor any fond feelings for him. However when she overhears plans to burn down the Archer's barn in an attempt to gain their land along with hers, left to her from her father death, she feels it's time to repay Travis after all these years. She wonders if he'll remember her after all these years.



In the latest novel from Karen Witemeyer, Short-Straw Bride, is a delightful tale of a young woman who wants to always do the right thing when it comes to her faith and belief in God, even if it means it may make some people unhappy. In this case, it's repaying a debt she feels she owes to Travis Archer, a man she has spent most of her life dreaming about. What she comes to find out is that not only does Travis remember her, but once she sets foot on Archer land this time, she will not be returning.

I received this novel compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and LOVED this one. The concept was unique instead of a simple man meets woman and falls in love, this one had a unique twist to it, you will LOVE if you're a fan of Christian Western Romances. In this one, Meredith Hayes, character is not that of a weak woman, in fact she is quite the opposite, with spunk, fire and determination she tries to always do the right thing even if it means going against what others would have her do instead. For that reason, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I love it when the author chooses to endow her female characters with such strength tempered with the right amount of faith and love for God. This is my fourth book, I've had the opportunity to read by Karen Witemeyer and now if her name is on it, I already know it will be GREAT and I automatically will purchase it.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

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