Hidden Mercies

Is is possible that your child could do something so horrible that you couldn't find it in your heart to forgive them? Is it possible to honestly hate your own child?

After twenty seven years, Tom Miller is returning home. He is finally willing to face those he has hurt beyond belief and he only hopes that they can find it in their hearts to forgive him as well. Twenty seven years ago, things between his family and the girl he grew up loving from afar were forever changed. His brother Matthew was supposed to wake up that morning and marry Claire, but instead he was offering the opportunity to ride a new thoroughbred horse that their friend Henry owned. Knowing there wasn't a horse that Matthew couldn't ride, this was a dream come true. Only when combined with the effects of drinking and following a bit too closely in the predawn hours, the accident that killed Matthew would be something he would carry with him the rest of his life.

Claire had finally moved on after learning that she was pregnant with Matthew's child just days after she was supposed to marry Matthew. How was she supposed to know that God had different plans for her than marrying the man, she though she would. Now that she is now 44, she has lived a fulfilled life as a wife and mother to Abraham, a man she married strictly out of convenience to give her son Levi, father to teach him what he needed to know to become a man. Now that she is a widow and raising her own children as well as her brother's orphan daughters, she finds that being a midwife and running a small store is enough to keep their heads above water.

When Tom returns home, he finds that after serving in Afghanistan, that due to his injuries sustained when a suicide bomber blew up in front of him, no one recognizes him. The scars to his face and the change in his voice from the attack give him a chance to talk with Claire and his own father to see if he can find a way to truly seek forgiveness in their hearts. Yet Tom soon learns that it might be best if he remained unknown to them when he finds that they both bear hard feelings towards the man they wished might never have come back.

I received Hidden Mercies by Serena B. Miller compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. Being a huge lover of Amish Fiction and having read An Uncommon Grace, I was looking forward to reading Hidden Mercies to pick up Claire's story. While it's not necessary to read An Uncommon Grace to gain a full understanding of this novel, once you read the story of Claire and Levi, you will want to go back to revisit Claire's story from the beginning. This is truly a story about the freedom that forgiveness really brings, not so much for the person we are forgiving but for us. There is such a power in letting go of bitterness, hard feelings and accepting that no matter how often we fail in life, God is always willing to extend us the mercy of His love and true forgiveness. This is a beautiful example of that in Hidden Mercies, and one I highly recommend with a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Hidden Mercies, Serena B. Miller or where to pick up a copy of Hidden Mercies today, please click on the links below:

Hidden Mercies by Serena B. Miller

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• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (April 9, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451660359
• ISBN-13: 978-1451660357
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches

The Guardian

Beverly Lewis is well-known for creating exceptional characters for us to get to know and enjoy and once more she delights her readers in taking us back to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania in her third book, The Guardian. Hickory Hollow is place where the Amish people live and dwell among the English, but separate themselves based on their religious beliefs. When tragedy befalls the community, they will rally together as a community to support and work through whatever issues they need to overcome any situation.

Maryanna Esh knows from experience how to deal with tragedy. When a farming accident claims the life of her husband, leaving her to raise her children alone, Maryanna finds comfort in knowing God will always provide. She sees no reason to search for love when she has a full time job raising her children and caring for her parents who live in the Dawdi Haus behind hers.

When a long trip home in the buggy late one afternoon finds all the children a bit sleepy and restless to get home, its all Maryanna can do to make sure they are comfortable. Her youngest Sarah, finds comfort in talking with her doll Kaylee and hanging over the back of the carriage looking at the sky and scenery as they pass by. Despite the warnings from her other children about Sarah's interest, Maryanna is preoccupied with getting them home as soon as she can. It's not until she notices the silence of the carriage, that all her children have fallen asleep lulled by the clip-clopping of the horses hooves and the gentle rhythmic swaying of the buggy.

When she arrives home, she finds that Sarah is no where to be found. Thinking she may have gotten out without her noticing, she frantically searches all over the property and realizes that Sarah must have fallen out as she fell asleep. She alerts her neighbors who soon begin a search for Sarah along with the entire community. Now worse than ever, Maryanna begins to question whether she has made the right decision with staying single when having a man in the house once more might bring about type of protection and caring her children need. She wouldn't have to manage as much on her own if she had a husband once more to help share the load of raising a family. If only God will bring Sarah home safe and sound!

When Jodi Winfield decides to spend a few weeks living in the Amish community until her teaching job begins again, she had hoped that the time apart from her relationship with her boyfriend might bring the answers she desperately needs about starting a family. Training for the marathon might keep her mind off things for awhile until she finds a little girl abandoned beneath a tree and can't imagine how she might of gotten there. Injured and missing her clothing, Jodi tries to find the answers but she can't understand the tearful pleas from the little girl who is speaking a language she doesn't understand. Is this the answer to her prayers to God?

I received The Guardian by Beverly Lewis compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and did not receive any compensation for a favorable review. If you have never read a novel from Beverly Lewis, you'll want to pick this one up. She is a master at pulling at the heart strings of her readers and making them feel part of her characters lives so much, you just have to know what's going to happen by the end. You stick it out, not wanting to put the book down for one minute and this one shows such a powerful connection when the Amish and English worlds are joined by Sarah's disappearance and show us that despite all our circumstances, God's got something larger in mind when He answers prayer. I rate this one a powerful 5 out of 5 stars. This is the third book in the Home to Hickory Hollow Series, with the first, The Fiddler and then followed by The Bridesmaid. Beverly Lewis first introduced us to the setting of Hickory Hollow in her acclaimed best selling novel, The Shunning which was later turned into a movie to the delight of readers everywhere.

For more information about The Guardian, Beverly Lewis or where to pick up this stand-alone novel today, please click on the links below:

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

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To read more reviews on The Guardian from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance book tour, please click here.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 1 edition (March 26, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209795
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209796
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches

Heart in Hand

I love a great series of books whose characters are so well written, you'd swear they were real. Such is the case in Barbara Cameron's series Stitches in Time, in which I finished the third book, Heart in Hand. Stitches in Time is a shop owned by a wonderful family of women in Paradise, Pennsylvania. It is run by Leah, the grandmother and cousins, Naomi, Anna and Mary Katherine, each of them with a unique special skill like quilting, weaving or knitting. In the previous books in the series, we have gotten an in depth look at the lives of Naomi and Mary Katherine who have found their perfect husbands and now await their marriages. Yet Anna, the first to get married is also the first to experience true loss. Her husband Samuel died shortly after they got married when Leukemia claimed his life. Now living in the home they dreamed would one day be filled with children and love, Anna finds loneliness and thinks she will never find love again. Not after Samuel who she knew growing up and going to school with.

When she finds herself face to face however with Gideon Beiler and his daughter Sarah Rose who have come to the shop to help teach Sarah Rose some "women skills" since his wife, Mary also has died. Gideon is afraid that she will become more like a tom-boy unless she learns to quilt or knit. When Anna recommends learning to knit, she encourages Gideon to learn as well to help Sarah Rose when they are at home. She soon finds that the loneliness that her and Gideon share is something only two who have experienced loss can understand and it's the very thing that soon draws them together. When Sarah Rose starts having problems with school and struggling in her own grief in losing her mother, Anna becomes a friend to her to help her through the grieving process. She soon finds herself falling in love with Sarah Rose first and it's not long before she begins to fight her feelings about Gideon. She feels she is betraying her trust to love Samuel and struggles with wondering if God wishes her to fall in love again.Is it possible all this time, God has had someone in mind to help her move forward and put the past of loneliness and sorrow behind her?

I received Heart in Hand by Barbara Cameron compliments of Net Galley and Abingdon Press for my honest review and really love how this book brings to a close all the relationships between these wonderful characters we've come to love. I can relate to Anna's own struggle in believing that the love she shared between her and Samuel can never be found again. It can't and as soon as she realizes that and accept Gideon as his own instead of trying to compare him with Samuel, she can soon come to grips with the feelings she has for him. Their's isn't going to be like those early years of romance, but now one of more maturity since life has already dealt them with a lot to handle. Even though this is part of a series, you can read this as a stand alone. Barbara does such a wonderful job in each of her books that you can immediately jump in and gain an understanding of where everyone is at. But to fully appreciate the series as I have, you need to start from the beginning. You can pick up Her Restless Heart and The Heart's Journey at your local retailer.  I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and hope that Barbara might just squeeze one more out before ending this one!

For more information about Heart in Hand, Barbara Cameron, or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Heart in Hand by Barbara Cameron

You can also find Barbara Cameron on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (February 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426714343
• ISBN-13: 978-1426714344
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches

Unbreakable

You've probably heard the phrase, "turn the other cheek," however is it possible to still turn the other cheek when the life of someone you love may be in danger? How long would you be able to remain passive even if your core religious beliefs were founded on those very principles. To not return violence with violence?

Yet in the small Mennonite town of Kingdom, removed from most of society to maintain those solid religious beliefs, the town suddenly finds violence has stepped inside the borders of the town. First with the burning of a church just on the outskirts of town and now when Hope Kauffman, has become the latest target of violence. She was returning home when a red truck forced her off the road in her buggy, but she was able to leap clear just in time. As the truck attempted to run her down again, she was saved by her answered prayer when Jonathan Wiese shows up in his truck and scares the driver off. Had it not been for Jonathan's quick actions, Hope might be dead.

Jonathan reminds her that the violence is growing towards those who hate Christians, burning churches, running drivers off the road and knowing that the people of Kingdom will not retaliate against them no matter how bad it gets. He advises Hope to please speak with the Elders of the church to see if there are so precautions that they can take to prevent the violence from getting out of hand. He offers to follow Hope back into town to her quilt shop, Kingdom Quilts but learns that not everyone is glad to see him, even if he did save Hope's life. Jonathan was a young man who moved to Kingdom with his family a year ago. He had immediately started sharing his ideas about reforming the Kingdom Mennonite Church and had caused some in the church to be upset with him and his beliefs. Her father was not at all pleased with the amount of time that Hope was spending with Jonathan even if they were only friends. Hope was engaged to marry Ebenezer Miller or Ebbie for short, but found herself wondering just what were her true feelings for Jonathan.

However will her father's opinions change now that Hope's life was threatened? Will he be able to stick with his foundational beliefs when the violence continues and the best they can hope for is praying for God's divine intervention? Is it possible to remain sincere to your religious beliefs and yet still protect those you love? All these answers are found in the latest novel, Unbreakable from Nancy Mehl's Road to Kingdom series. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand alone. Nancy's exceptional detail she pours into her characters will make you truly care about them as though you knew them personally and will make you want to go back to the beginning and read her first book, Inescapable.

I received Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This is such an amazing novel because it shows how truly devoted some people are to their faith, despite the fact that the world around them is changing and they can't remain locked away forever without having the world intrude upon them. It takes you behind the scenes through the eyes of Hope Kauffman and teaches us that sometimes it's alright to question the things you have been taught instead of simply accepting them at face value. It makes them easier to hold onto and shows that often times compromise can be achieved without losing your foundations in the process. I proudly give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the third book in this series coming soon. There is also a discussion guide included at the end that works perfectly for book clubs to enjoy this one as well.

For more information about Unbreakable, Nancy Mehl or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl

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To read more reviews from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour for Unbreakable, please click here. 

Courting Cate

"An ultimatum has been issued by Bob Miller, father to Cate and Betsy, "That beginning tonight, that Betsy doesn't go to the singings if Cate doesn't go, Betsy doesn't court unless Cate courts, and Betsy doesn't marry unless Cate marries first. Understood?"

Betsy burst into tears - something she'd perfected through the years. When she was little she had been known to put her finger in her eye to make herself cry.

I fell back against my chair.

Dat boomed, "That's the final word, I'll not budge an inch."

Dat sat back in his chair and opened his Bible, holding it like a shield between him and me. "I finished Revelation this morning."

It seemed as if it had been a lifetime ago.

"So tonight, Genesis one," he proclaimed.

Betsy whimpered. I stared straight ahead. Dat ignored us both. "In the beginning," he read, "God created..."

The only other words I heard were "Be fruitful and multiply." (pg18-19).


In the novel, Courting Cate, the first book in the Courtships of Lancaster County by Leslie Gould, we find a challenge has been issued by Cate's father to find her a suitable husband so she can experience the love and happiness he had once shared with his now deceased wife. But it seems as if no Amish boy ever has wanted to genuinely court Cate and instead has only been interested in Betsy, her younger sister. Cate has been fine with the arrangement of keeping the books for her father's growing business and resisting the efforts of the single men in her community who insist on giving her a hard time.

Now fearing resentment from Betsy, now 17 and with more suitors than she can count, Cate feels pressured to find a husband otherwise Betsy will never marry. But the only love Cate truly has is being an avid book reader since she was caught by her Dat reading under the covers by candlelight, now Bob Miller fears it is the love of books that have captured Cate's interest and kept all prospects of finding a suitable husband away at the old age of 23. It seems that Cate could spend some time brushing up on her culinary skills as well as she burns most anything she attempts to cook, while her sister Betsy is the dream of what an Amish young woman should be. They're as different as night and day, but unless Cate marries, she will doom all of their lives and pass up any hope of finding true happiness.

Betsy wants to settle down and raise a family that she didn't even participate in Rumschpringe, a running around time and immediately joined the church. It seemed as every Amish boy who had met her dreamed of courting her, and now she can't move forward in search of her own future unless she helps her sister, Cate find a husband. But who will she be able to find to court Cate, that she hasn't already rejected? I mean there has to be an eligible bachelor somewhere considering her Dat's money. But Cate isn't willing to accept just 'someone.' She had already experience that 'someone' who was only interested in her Dat's money before and she won't do that again. But when Betsy puts the word out to find a suitable husband for Cate, it seems that fate will bring Pete Treger to town just in time, but is his interest in Cate or is there a scheme at play? 

I received Courting Cate by Leslie Gould, compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and could easily see the dilemma facing Cate. Her father truly only wants what he believes is best for Cate and Betsy, but when faced with the fact that Cate might never make the move on her own, he does what he thinks might motivate them both and issues a plan to find a husband for Cate. For those of you looking for something a bit different in your Amish Romance books, you might have found a true treasure in Courting Cate, the first book in The Courtships of Lancaster County and I can't wait for the next one. This one hands down rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Courting Cate, Leslie Gould or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

You can also find Leslie Gould on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews from the Courting Cate Book Tour, click here.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210319
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210310
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches

The Memory Jar

"For so long, she'd taken her memories of Patty - the memories they'd created together - and held them outside of herself, protecting herself from the pain of carrying them deep within. It was as if she carried all the memories in her jars. But if doing so, it was as if she'd also kept everyone else - those still in her life - at arm's length too."

Sarah Shelter knows she is different from most Amish girls. She can quilt but doesn't enjoy it, loves to bake, but doesn't like cooking, and find herself spending most of her time dreaming and wishing of a life she believes God wants for her, but because it might go against what others want for her, she pushes those thoughts back. Instead she spends her time and talents pouring her heart and soul in the baked goods she makes for Annie, her boss at West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery in the heart of the Montana mountains. Her customers can taste all the love she puts into each of her creations and she dreams of sometime owning her own bakery.

When the tragedy of losing her best friend Patty during an accident at the lake, she pushes her hopes and dreams back into herself much like the trinkets she has collected over the years she stores in her memory jars. She can only hope that some day she can find a man who will love the real Sarah that lies bottled up inside waiting for that special someone to unlock her dreams.

Jathan Schrock believes that "There is not a pot so crooked there isn't a lid to fit it. Years ago, Jathan knew he would have tried to pound himself into shape - but he struggles to find a way to express the passion and love he has inside that goes against what he father feels a true Amish man should measure up to and for now, takes so time to head to Montana to hunt and make some money to help his family out during their hard financial times. Yet he doesn't realize how one adventure hiking into the mountains with a group of Amish young adults will change his life forever in both good and bad ways.



In the novel The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer, the reader is immersed into a different story from any I've read before. The setting of a mountain Amish community is a bit different and LOVE how Tricia incorporated the love of the forests and animals into the adventures and friendship Patty and Sarah share and build, but also one that Jathan and Sarah discover as well. I love Sarah's love for baking and in it she discovers she has a talent that God created in her that is different than most in her Amish community. She finds herself at odds with most in the Amish that believe that Sarah is going to far in her creativity and many find it prideful, but Sarah sees things differently.

I received this novel compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for my honest opinion and love the parallel storylines that take place throughout this book. While Sarah feels she has lost her friendship with Patty forever, she soon discovers that Patty has been with her all along in the things she decides to do once she works past her grief. I love the memory jar concept and have one myself to look back on things that mean a lot to me that happen over the year. This is a beautifully written Amish novel that will inspire and encourage those that have gone through a sense of loss as well as searching for what our life's purpose is. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and this is one you will definitely want to pick up when it comes out this October. Make sure you preorder your copy today. This is the first book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and this will be one you'll want to begin and follow.

For more information on The Memory Jar, Tricia Goyer or where to pre-order your copy today, please click on the links below:

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

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You can also follow more reviews on The Memory Jar from the Litfuse Book Tour by clicking here. 

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 23, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310335108
• ISBN-13: 978-0310335108

Be Still My Soul

Lonnie Sawyer is praying for the day she turns eighteen. Not like most girls who are hoping for potential marriage to the man she has loved and hopes to spend the rest of her life with. Lonnie's desperate to leave her home because of the abuse she has been suffering at the hands of her father for years. Her only escape has been to flee to her Aunt Sarah's house when things go wrong. While being comforted with love, her Aunt Sarah reads to her from the Book of Psalms, she's already been through them three times and is starting all over again.

"Where did we leave off?" Sarah asks her.

"We are on the 23rd Psalm." replies Lonnie with a sigh, and so Sarah begins to read.

When she walks home from a singing accompanied by Gideon O'Riley, a boy that seemed to attract all the wrong kinds of attention and mothers warned their daughters to stay away from, he pressures her for a kiss as payment. Feeling more than guilty for the hour long walk, she relents but that is when things change forever for the both of them. Gideon begins to take the kiss a bit farther than Lonnie wants and knocks him square in the jaw, and flees for the safety inside her home.

Only come morning, it seems like her father was watching and now thinks that Lonnie has been soiled. Her only consolation now is being forced to wed Gideon O'Riley by both sets of parents despite the arguments of both of them than nothing happened. At least in Lonnie's mind, she has escaped her father earlier than she expected, but how can she be married to a man who doesn't love her? Gideon seems determined to let Lonnie know that he's isn't thrilled to be forced to marry her and pushes her in ways her father didn't. It seems like Lonnie has traded in one form of abuse for another. Can her faith in God, change her circumstances or will she be forced to endure the breaking of her soul and spirit being tethered to a man who thinks only of himself?

In the new novel, Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof, readers are introduced to a brand new series, The Cadence of Grace in this first book. I believe this book takes readers through a unique series of circumstances and shows how no matter what our trials look like at the time, no matter how hopeless, if we maintain being persistent in our faith, God will work them all out for our good and His glory! I truly felt for poor Lonnie in this novel because it seems no matter how hard she tries, nothing ever seems to get better for her, but she never really complains about it. She keeps to herself and keeps reading those Psalms she has memorized in her head when her heart wants to give in!

I received Be Still My Soul compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah for my honest review and highly recommend this book to those that struggle with their faith during trying circumstances. It gives us hope that in the end our reward will be great if we are willing to finish the race with God! I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars! This is available in paperback and eBook formats from your local book retailer in October of 2012, so make sure you preorder a copy of yours today! For more information on Be Still My Soul, Joanne Bischof, and where you can preorder a copy, please click on the links below:

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof

You can also find Joanne on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books!

A Perfect Square

Shipshewana, Indiana is about to be involved once more in a mystery that will rock the entire town and change people's lives forever. When Deborah and Esther along with their younger children, stop just outside of the Fisher farm to pick some flowers, they find a body of a young girl floating face down in the pond. Not knowing who she is, Deborah runs to call for help. As they wait for the police to show up, Reuben Fisher and Deborah wonder just who the girl is. It seems as though she isn't from around here based on the details in her Amish attire.

When the county sheriff, Shane Black arrives on scene, Deborah and Esther cringe based on their previous encounters with the sheriff involving other murders involving them both. Seems like murder just follows them around. However when the sheriff begins to question Reuben, he maintains his silence and refuses to answer. Is it possible he knows more than he's willing to say and that leads Shane Black to believe that Reuben might be the murderer. When a search reveals blood inside the Fisher's family home, Shane has no other choice but to arrest Reuben.

Esther Zook believed that God finally was blessing her life with a new future until her fiance's cousin, Reuben is arrested. Just two weeks from her wedding she now feels that Tobias will put it on hold while he attempts to figure out what happened at the farm and why Reuben refuses to talk. Unless he does, he will be sentenced for murder and spend the rest of his life in jail.

Deborah believes that there is more to this story that just what the evidence is pointing to, so she begins to investigate alongside the local reporter from the Gazette, Trent McCallister to show the town that Reuben is innocent and for her best friend, Esther to finally have the happiness she truly deserves after the death of her husband, two years earlier.



I received A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman compliments of Zondervan Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review. This is a different take on your standard Amish novels and deals with both the English and Amish working together to figure out just who murdered the girl in the pond and who she is. It appeals to lovers of both Amish Fiction and Crime/Mystery genres and involves a couple of different plots buried withing the pages of this book. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and it does have a great moral lesson to be gleaned by the end. This is the sequel to Falling to Pieces but can be read as a stand alone!

For more information on A Perfect Square, Vannetta Chapman and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman

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• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 31, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310330440
• ISBN-13: 978-0310330448

Beyond Hope's Valley

Life is finally coming to a conclusion for some of the residents in Indiana especially for the Sommer family. Now that Marianna and Levi have come back to Indiana after moving to Montana, they are ready for some major changes in both their lives.

For Levi, he left Indiana looking for what he dreamed the perfect woman would be and after careful consideration realized that the woman he was looking for was the one he left behind. The only problem is that Naomi is pregnant and it's not Levi's child. However, seeing that he's in love with her, he is willing to do whatever is necessary even if it mean letting everyone else believe he is the father. The only problem is that Naomi won't tell him who the real father is and he won't pressure her to tell him. The wedding won't happen until after Naomi has the baby to assure that both Naomi and Levi are making the right decision.

Marianna is here to help with the planning of the wedding and to help both Naomi and Levi with the preparations of having a baby soon. Now that she's finally coming to realize just how much she loves Aaron, once the wedding for her brother Levi and Naomi have taken place, she can begin planning their wedding. She is still struggling with her new found faith in God, reading the English version of the Bible instead of the High German one, most Amish families use. Her relationship has grown and even her Mam and Dat in Montana have begun to embrace some of the changes from the old Amish order to a blend of the English and Amish ways.

The only thing that still remains in her old life is her heart still belongs to Ben, an English musician who introduced her to a personal relationship in God! Now that she finds herself growing in that relationship, she fears that she won't be able to pursue that once she returns home back to Indiana and to the Amish ways of her family and friends. It isn't something that the Amish do is question the authorities of their church in what the Bible has to say but now that Marianna can read it for herself, she finds herself conflicted with what her people believe.

What will happen in each of these relationships? Will Naomi finally tell Levi who the father of the baby is before they get married or will the father step in and do the right thing and take responsibility for the baby and marry Naomi himself? Will Marianna end up marrying Aaron and go back to her Amish roots or will her love for God bring her to realize He may have other plans in mind for her?



In the concluding book in the Big Sky series, Beyond Hope's Valley by Tricia Goyer brings to a close the relationships we have come to love since the beginning. I am so happy to know the outcome of Marianna's life and how her family would deal with their knowledge of the Bible and a personal relationships with God being raised in the Amish Order. I have always wanted to know how the Amish would deal these types of situations and how that would impact their relationships on both sides of the fence. I think Tricia did an outstanding job at answering all the questions I had through this series in this final novel in this series. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend this series for those of you that would love to see the Amish and English blend together in some interesting ways.

I received Beyond Hope's Valley by Tricia Goyer compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and now the only sad part is that is done. I will miss the Sommer family, especially Marianna but know that she will be just fine after finding her true heart's desire in the end. This can be read as a stand alone but TRUST me, you'll want to read the entire series from the beginning. It's simply that great a series for Amish fans everywhere. For more information about this book, the talented author and where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Beyond Hope's Valley by Tricia Goyer

You can also find Tricia Goyer on Facebook by clicking here.

For my reviews on the other two books in the series, you can click on the titles below:

Beside Still Waters - Book 1
Along Wooded Paths - Book 2

The Way Back To Mayberry: Lessons From A Simpler Time

Most of us have grown up at some point in time watching The Andy Griffith Show or have at least heard about it. Some of us, like myself, are still searching for their version of Mayberry, a town where people truly care about one another, family values are more important than the gossip, and where life just seems a whole lot more simple.

Joey Fann, is the author of a new book entitled, The Way Back To Mayberry: Lessons from A Simpler Time, a unique look into the episodes of the classic Andy Griffith show that when mirrored with scripture from the Bible, gives us a modern day look at just how to apply those to our lives. Here are just a few of the tidbit's I gleaned much wisdom from:

"I've learned that bad things will happen to us in this life, but the issue is not the tragedy itself; it's how we respond. To some extent, we do have a choice. We can choose to get bitter or to get better. This is from an episode "Andy Forecloses", and relates to an episode in which Lester Scobey has fallen on hard times and Andy is asked by the rental manager to evict the family. Seems like a life lesson we can all learn from even today. The scripture reference to this particular chapter is from Matthew 17:20 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific episode that opens first with Biblical Scripture. Perhaps it's one you've read for quite some time, but when placed next to an episode from the Andy Griffith Show, you can see how it can be taken quite literally. Along with the chapter comes the authors own personal experience in how this has worked in his own life and what he has taken away from it.

These episodes can still be found on YouTube for free but the book is now used in Bible Study's in churches all over to teach the valuable lessons we can all learn from. Even reading this last night, I found myself watching the show and seeing how the author ties it all together so well. Even my husband and I laughed watching the simplicity of the characters on the show, from fun-loving Barney Fiff, to the compassionate sheriff Andy who always had the love for his fellow man close at hand, something we can all learn from even today.

I received this book compliments of B & H Publishing Group courtesy of Net Galley for my honest review and really loved the wholesome message that is contained in each chapter along with pictures of the characters we've have come to love and adore from the show. This really would make a great Bible Study for small groups and even teens who are getting an opportunity to see these episodes with new eyes in this generation. I rate this book a family-filled 5 out of 5 stars! For those of you that love television with a great message, this book is the perfect companion.

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

The Way Back To Mayberry: Lessons From A Simpler Time by Joey Fann

You can also find out more about Joey Fann by clicking on his website Barneyfife.com and learn more about how to incorporate this study's into your church group!

An Amish Wedding

Here's a great twist from three fabulous authors who have collaborated their finest writing talents in one sensational book, An Amish Wedding by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller, and Beth Wiseman. Taking a journey into an upcoming wedding of Priscilla and Chester who truly believe that perhaps with all the bad things happening to them just prior to their wedding, that perhaps it may be a sign that they shouldn't be married after all. From her younger sister Sara Mae, who takes Priscilla's wedding dress that she's been working on and makes clothes for her doll as well as a blanket and hammock, just weeks before the big day, while Chester's been busy planning on the perfect home for them is experiencing setbacks of his own, from electrical that needs to be rewired to pass inspection, a roof that unexpectedly leaks and issues with his current employer. Is it a sign after all that they should wait?

Each of the three authors takes a turn putting this wedding together in three separate parts of the book, The Perfect Secret, The Perfect Match, and The Perfect Plan. While each of them works on a different set of characters through the story, they are magically woven together seamlessly so the reader gains insight into each of the couples involved in the mini stories.

The Perfect Secret involves Rose and Luke who are engaged to one another, but despite some secrets that each of them has, they begin to wonder if they truly really know one another at all, especially to be married. In the Perfect Match, Naomi has been asked to help set up Margaret with the perfect man, Zeke, who arrives in time for Priscilla and Chester's wedding. Yet instead of falling for Margaret, he falls for Naomi, who is dealing with past hurts that may prevent her from ever accepting the gift of true love from anyone. These stories wrap up with The Perfect Plan in which all attend Priscilla and Chester's wedding.

What happens is a perfect blend of perfection with the hope and promise that all things work for the good of God in the end. I received this eBook compliments of Thomas Nelson publishers for my honest review courtesy of Net Galley and being a huge fan of Amish Fiction and Christian Romance, this one hits a home run with a 5 out of 5 stars! The best part is the recipes for some delicious Amish treats at the end.

For more information on this book, the authors and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

An Amish Wedding by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller, and Beth Wiseman

Christmas In Sugarcreek

Returning to the setting of the Seasons of Sugarcreek books and being able to catch up with all the characters we have come to love and adore, is where Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelly Shepard Gray begins. When she finished writing Autumn's Promise, Shelly felt the need to tell Judith Graber's story since she felt it was a character she neglected. Judith needed a man who would love her enough to make her smile and that is what she finds in Ben Knox.

Ben Knox has the reputation of being the bad Amish boy, one who spent his rumspringa finding and capturing the hearts of girls and leaving them behind battered and broken. Even though Judith has always liked him, she isn't about to let her feelings get in the way of common sense. Yet that is all Judith's life has been about, being the girl who is reliable, dependable, one with a great head on her shoulders and very smart. She's the one her parents rely on to help with the household chores, the children and running the family store. Just for once, Judith dreams of doing something just for herself or finding just the right person who will take care of her.

Just when Judith doesn't think things can get any worse, they do. When her brother Caleb is called away from helping Judith with the store to care for her wife who is pregnant with twins, she feels overwhelmed. Her father offers to hire someone to help her out and Ben Knox is just the right person for the job. Will Judith be able to keep her heart and feelings locked deep inside or will Ben be the key to unlock the love she has kept inside? Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?

I received Christmas in Sugarcreek compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and after falling in love with the characters from Sugarcreek in Shelly's series, I couldn't wait to share Christmas with the Graber family once again. A wonderful story of finding a bit of light and hope inside each of us, if we are but brave enough to seek it. Another award winning book that rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars! Here's even more information about the book, the author and even a first chapter sneak peek that will capture your heart!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Christmas In Sugarcreek Avon Inspire (October 25, 2011) by Shelley Shepard Gray



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, and Abingdon Press. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.



Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.



Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.



When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.



Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page





ABOUT THE BOOK

Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.



But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.



Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.



Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.

As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.

Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Christmas In Sugarcreek, go HERE.

People of the Book

Farah Mohammed Al Otaibi lay bruised and bloody on the floor beside her bed. The image of her soft mattress floated in and out of her consciousness, as did the rank smells of urine and feces and blood. But she had no strength to drag herself from her current position. Even the slightest movement brought stabs of excruciating pain, so she tried to remember to keep her breathing shallow and her body still.

How long had she been here? Hours, certainly. Days? She couldn't be sure. Her father and brother had covered the windows with heavy, dark cloth, blocking out any light that might help her keep track of time.

Hunger wasn't an issue, for who could think of food when the pain was so intense? But thirst? Oh, how she longed for just a sip of cool water! Surely her mother would sneak in son and bring her some. She had always taken care of her before -

Before ...

The memory was back, though she tried desperately to block it out. Impossible. She could never forget that moment in time, for it was the dividing line between the before and after of her life. Before the tragedy that led to her brother's discovery. Before her father had flown into a rage over what he considered his daughter's betrayal and treachery. Before they had threatened to kill her in order to preserve teh family's honor. Before he mother had tried to intervene.

Hot tears pricked the back of Farah's eyelids, as the vision of her mother's face before - and after - swam in front of her eyes. The pain in her heart at that moment far exceeded anything she felt in her body. Then suddenly, inexplicably, the meaning of her name - Farah, joy and cheerfulness - burst into her consciousness. Despite her agony and sorrow, Farah was unable to hold back the brief burst of laughter that exploded from her aching chest. How absurd that her parents had given her a name that implied happiness, and yet she now wondered if she had ever truly understood or experienced an of it in her not quite nineteen years of life.

But then she had met Isa, and everything - both good and bad - had changed forever.

In the novel, People of the Book by Kathi Macias, we get the opportunity to view first hand through the eyes of Farah, what it's like living in Saudi Arabia and living as a practicing Muslim. However when Farah's life is interrupted by a vision from Isa, Jesus Christ, she feels conflicted in whether what she has believed all her life has been a lie, and with that knowledge, changing her faith is not that simple. It would mean certain death if her family found out. Will she be willing to take that risk?

I received this novel compliments of Kathi Macias for my honest review and once again she doesn't disappoint her readers. This one was a 5 out of 5 star in my personal opinion and gave me insight into just how much we take our religious freedoms here in the United States for granted. No where can someone select another religion and feel free to practice their beliefs and remain safe. Whereas, in places like Saudi Arabia, you may in fact lose your life for choosing something other than Islam as your religion.

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

People Of The Book by Kathi Macias

You can also find her on Facebook by clicking here.

The Wonder of Your Love

The lives of two very amazing women are about to be changed in very different ways. This is the time for second chances and for hope for new beginnings for both of them, if only their hearts remain open to the possibilities of God's answers to prayer.

Katie Ann Stolzfus and her baby boy Jonas have spent the last several months trying to recover from two separate losses. The first was when Katie's husband, Ivan left her for an English woman and moved in with her. Just a few months later, Ivan would be killed in a tragic accident. She never told Ivan she was pregnant because she didn't want him coming home for that reason alone, since he left her in the first place. Katie isn't ready to open her heart again anytime soon at the prospect of love, because she can't stand feeling that heartache all over again, and lose her trust once more.

Martha, her English neighbor has been assisting Katie with being neighborly since her husband left her. Not willing to give up any of her English ways, Katie and Martha have formed a mother/daughter like bond between them, looking after one another since they both are widows and neither have married. Martha did love a man, but never bothered to share her feelings with him before he left to go help his ailing son. She had hoped maybe he felt the same way as she did, but since he never moved back, she believed the feelings were only one sided on her part.

Eli Detweiler has spent the last 17 years raising six of his own children as the last of his daughters is now finally married and out on her own. He now vows that since his wife death those 17 years ago, he's going to take some time and just travel and take care of his needs now. He hasn't wanted to replace his wife since he believed that he could never love again, but will God have other plans in store for Eli?

In the newest novel, The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman, we enter the second novel in this series and see how two women struggle to find love again after losing it the first time. If only either one of them could be bold enough to convey their feelings to the men that come into the life, but they believe that there aren't any second chances for them, this late in life. However God has great intentions for them on His horizon and in His timing.

I received this novel compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and feel in love with the robust character of Martha and the quiet resolve of Katie Ann. I see how both of them want what God has so richly promised, a man to love them whole heartily and be true, but sometimes they are the ones standing in the way. This is a story of second chances for those who feel they don't deserve them and for love to find a way home. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next one coming out in The Land of Canaan series.

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

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman

You can also find Beth on Facebook by clicking here.

Beth is celebrating the release of Book 2 in the Land of Canaan series with a Fabulous Facebook party on November 1st. She'll be giving away one of her OWN paintings, several mini prize packs and a sneak peak at the next book in this heartwarming series.

CLICK the button (below) to RSVP for the party - then join us on November 1st for a book chat, Amish themed trivia contest, and more!

The Wonder of Your Love Facebook Party on 11/1!

Wonderland Creek

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wonderland Creek Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Lynn Austin



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.



It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.



Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.



Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.



Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. And two of her inspirational fiction books were chosen by Library Journal for their top picks in 2003, and 2005. One of Lynn's novels has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.



Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.



But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. While Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and myster--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Wonderland Creek, go HERE.

Along Wooded Paths

If you have read any Amish fiction, then you know based on the Amish lifestyle and principles that most Amish that stay within their church communities, marry other Amish people. However when one Amish family decides to move to Montana, they find themselves working side by side with Englisch neighbors. It is here that the readers of Tricia Goyer's latest novel, Along Wooded Paths, find themselves at the beginning of this story.

This is the second book in the Amish Big Sky series with the first being, Beside Still Waters, where the Sommer family has moved to Montana to start a new lifestyle yet in the process separates Marianna from Aaron Zook who was hoping to being a courtship with her before she left. Now their relationship survives on what letters they write to one another and just when Marianna was going to move back to Indiana, she changed her mind and stayed with her family, who needed her help.

During the time apart, Aaron has tried to forget Marianna and tried seeing another local girl Naomi, but deep down inside, Aaron has his heart set on Marianna. He has been writing her since she has gone, but has never sent the letters. He hopes that he can win her heart again if he heads to Montana to see her and give her all his letters face to face.

Marianna has a confusing lifestyle, she lives in the Amish community but works with Annie, an Englisch woman at the store/bakery where she has been enjoying seeing both worlds mix together. In the process she has grown to see her heart fall in love with Ben, an Englischer who walks with the Lord in all he says and does, more so than most of the Amish around her. But Marianna's family does not want her to give up her Amish ways, but does God only love the Amish or can God have other plans for her with Ben?



I received Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and since reading Beside Still Waters I wondered how the next book would play out with the Englischers. I was not disappointed and even though I had read the prior book, anyone can read this one as a stand alone. The question about where the religious beliefs of the English play into how the Amish view them is up for grabs in this book. Does God see a difference between the two who place God first in their lives and try to live according to His word. To find out, you'll have to pick up this latest Amish book and see who wins Marianna's heart after all? Will she stay true to her Amish ways or will a God-loving English man show win her heart? I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next one!

For more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of Along Wooded Paths, please click on the links below:

Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer

You can also follow Tricia on Facebook by clicking here.

Fallen From Babel

An ancient tower. A future evil. A skeptic trapped between.

At the touch of an ancient vase...he is sent back to Babylon.

Peter Thornton doesn't believe in God. Or rather, he doesn't believe in one God. " All paths are valid," he teaches his university students. One evening he ventures to the archaeology museum and touches an artifact recently unearthed from ancient Babylon.

At the touch he is transported three thousand years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Somehow he knows the language - and the people know him as Rim-Sin, sorcerer and high priest to the gods of Babylon. The moment he arrives he is accused of murder - a murder Rim-Sin committed - and he must run for his life.

Against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar's court at its zenith, he and rival sorcerers vie with Belteshazzar, the Jewish upstart, for the King's favor. As Peter scrambles to get back to the twenty-first century, he encounters a lovely young woman who has some disturbingly powerful arguments about the God of the Bible.

Peter won't get home until he has fallen from his pride. Fallen from his polytheism. Fallen from Babel.

About the Author:

T.L. Higley earned a degree in English Literature at Rowan University in New Jersey. Higley, who has a lifelong interest in history and mythology seeks to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past. You can learn more about her at her website by clicking here.

My Review:

Being a huge history buff and child of the King, I was drawn to this story after Higley made me a fan of hers after reading Petra, City of Stone, and City of the Dead. Her uncanny ability to transport the reader back in time, is extraordinary. Her characters are well thought out and believable and her historical research is beyond measure. You are living in Ancient Babylon the first moment you grasp the pages. You are drawn into the story yourself and wonder how will Peter return.

Not only at the moment he is transported, he finds himself over the body of a dead Jewish man, but he himself has blood on his hands. Now he does what we all would do and runs! Hiding from the King as one of his diviners, he must find a way back home, back to the world he once knew. He tries to reason with himself that he is there for a reason, perhaps a way to convert people into accepting all beliefs, but when he comes face to face with Belteshazzar, otherwise known as Daniel by his Jewish name, who will interpret his dream and tell him why he is really here as a message from God himself.

I received this book compliments of T. L. Higley for my honest review and once more she has captivated me and drawn me back in time. Once again she did not disappoint me. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars for my virtual journey back to ancient Babylon and back into biblical history.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up her books to add to your personal library, please click on the links below:

Fallen From Babel by T. L. Higley

You can find her on Facebook by clicking here.

Desert Gift

Jillian Galloway was on top of the world. A successful radio host of Recipes for Marriage, an author about to start her first book tour for She Said, He Heard, as well as a wife and mom. What she didn't expect as her and husband, Jack, were planning to get ready to leave on her first debut whirl wind book tour, was an announcement from Jack asking for a divorce.

How could this happen? She had devoted her life to making sure everything in Dr. Jack Galloway's life flowed smoothly from running the house, paying the bills, and being what she thought was the perfect wife. She thought their communication was excellent since Jack was her source of inspiration for helping other married couples through their difficulties. How can she possibly move forward in her career as a marriage expert when her own was falling apart?

In the book, Desert Gift by Sally John, Jillian is faced with a choice between fighting for her career or her marriage. Yet how do you fight for your marriage when your husband won't talk to you, tells you that he doesn't love you any more and has moved out? Jillian is struggling with these decisions while her agent Gretchen keeps her working on her book tour as she becomes more sad and depressed as she discovers more about herself than she would have imagined through a series of encounters with the most delightful cast of characters.

Faced with blunt honesty at times, Jillian is forced to face the reality that God has bigger plans for her, and the more she resists Him, the longer her road to recovery will take. This book is a great way to look at how marriages will come to a crossroads at a midway point that most call a mid-life crisis. The things that Jillian will learn along her way will help us look deep within our own marriages and see them through a new pair of eyes.

I received this book compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and can honestly say, there were a few areas within my own marriage I was able to give a hard look at to make sure we keep our foundation strong. Desert Gift rates a 5 out of 5 stars and a must read for any marriage. This book is available in paperback and eBook formats.

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy, please click on the link below:

Desert Gift by Sally John

You can also visit her at her website by clicking here.

The Fine Art of Insincerity

Three sisters who have grown up in the Grandmother Lillian's cottage now find themselves back together again but not for a family reunion. It seems that their realtor finally had someone who was willing to purchase the house and they have through Labor Day to take what they want out of the house and clean it out.

On Monday, the realtor will stop by to have them sign the final paperwork, and each of them will receive a check for $200,000 each. Their inheritance as they see it.

Penny plans on using this money to divorce her 5th husband whom she finds as dull and boring. She finds an attractive doctor at lunch who seems more than interested in her, and she seems willing to part ways with husband now she has money to live on and start a new life. She sees herself as her Grandmother Lillian who was married seven times before finding the right one.

Rosemary is married to a wonderful man named Wort who loves riding Harleys, while she tends to all the stray animals she comes across on their ranch. Her latest venture is a racehorse rescue. However when she miscarried her only child, her grief has driven her to seek out her own death and leave the world a much better place now that she won't be in it anymore. Now that she can also leave Wort money from the sell of her grandmother's house makes the invitation all the more inviting.

Ginger is the oldest and most reliable. She's been married for twenty seven years to Michael, a professor and even though they have seemed to have lost most of the passion and romance, Ginger believes they still have love. However, when she needs to contact Michael to have a financial paper signed for their son Ross in college, she is provided with a phone number to reach him. What she discovers will shattered her world when another woman answers the phone and tells Ginger, "I knew you'd find us."



In the novel, The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt, the three sisters are at odds and none of them, except for Penny and Ginger will confess what is truly going on in their lives, no matter how they may be judged by the other sisters. Only Rosie, keeps her grief and depression buried and only seeks the solace in spending time with her aging Jack Russell that is on it's last legs. It's a sad story that has brought them together, but will it be enough to heal them?

I received this book compliments of Glass Roads Public Relations for my honest review. This novel is filled with sadness that each of these women feels to need to keep their personal lives from one another at one point in the book. Each of them finds justification in what they believe they are doing but deep down inside know they are all hurting in an emotional and physical way. Their perceptions they have of one another is a far cry from who they really are inside and it will take something life changing for them to finally open up. This one rates 5 out of 5 stars because I could honestly see this happening especially in our culture and generation today, and it's interesting to see how each of them view their situations in their own eyes.

This book is available in paperback and eBook formats. For even more information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

Contingency

Chuck,

I'm meeting Chad and Michelle for drinks at Baker Street Pub at 6. Can you join us? My whole evening is free again. "wink"

--Tracy

Bobbi Molinsky stared at the email. Yes, it was addressed to her husband. Yes, it was automatically forwarded from his account at the law firm since he was out of town again. But it didn't make any sense.

Her fingers hovered over the mouse as she grasped for the "logical explanation". Chuck never mentioned a Tracy. Who was this woman, and why was she inviting Chuck to a pub, when he didn't drink? Why would Tracy say 'again'? Unless... (pg 1).

Bobbi can't believe what she has found after being married for the last twenty years. Worse yet, she begins to question all the events in her and Chuck's life for the last few months to see if there was a sign at all to point to where this was leading. She believes there is a reasonable explanation for this and yet the fear inside is making her sick.

In confronting her husband, Chuck, she learns that he has been having an affair for the last few weeks with a co-worker at the law firm. Being a Christian, she knows for certain she doesn't want a divorce, but how can she be sure her husband still wants to be married to her? How will this affect their two sons? What will this do their relationships with friends and family once they find out? How could God allow this to happen?

In the Book One of the Covenant of Trust Series, Contingency by Paula Wiseman, takes us on the most difficult battle in marriages, an affair of the heart. Not knowing if her marriage will survive, Bobbi calls her pastor to ask for advice. What Phil and his wife offer Donna is a workable plan for the next month to see if the marriage can be healed. This is the story of challenge that not only Bobbi and Chuck face, but also their children, their employers, friends and family who will not only ally themselves with the couple but in some cases turn away from them as well. This book showcases just how an affair affects everyone besides just the husband and wife. This book provides hope that despite this problem, God can heal a broken marriage!

This book is about as real as it gets in dealing with the loss of trust, betrayal, anger, hurt and sadness that threatens marriages today. This book teaches us the warning signs that are often overlooked and just how often we ourselves fail to safe guard our own marriages from falling victim. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian couple either dealing with issues in their marriage or even as a tool to guard against the probability to dealing with these issues at some point. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to re-read this over again. It now has a permanent place in my personal library!

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book for my honest review and would highly recommend this one! I look forward to future books in this series by Paula Wiseman! This book is available in paperback and eReader formats.

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

Contingency by Paula Wiseman

You can also find Paula Wiseman on Facebook by clicking here.