Twelve Unlikely Heres by John MacArthur

Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur is an in-depth study of some of the ordinary and not so ordinary people of whom God picked to do his work.  They were weak in body and sometimes soul.  They questioned God.  Some of the heroes, Jonah for instance, God had to all but drag to work and then listen to him complain when he successfully completed his mission.  Some unflinchingly worked for God, Jonathan, even when he had to go against his Earthly father in order to work for his heavenly father.  The Bible and other historical documents are used as Mr. MacArthur weaves these fascinating Biblical stories of which most of us are familiar with cultural facts of the background during which they occur.

I enjoyed reading the well known stories of the Bible.  Mr. MacArthur brought alive the stories that I had heard from childhood on up to adulthood.  However, I am not a Bible scholar but as I was reading the early parts of the book I thought to myself, I don’t remember that but I did not look them up in either of the Bibles cited in the book.  When I came to the Jonathon story though and on page 103 it says after Saul threw the spear and missed his son’s head.  “Nobody moved.  The only sound in the room came from the still-vibrating spear handle plunged ominously into the wall.”  I really thought, “I don’t remember that”.  So I looked it up.  Nope it doesn’t say that in the Bible so I looked to see if this book was fictionalized- nope it says, “Bible—Biography”.  I looked for citing in the back of the book and only see citing for chapter 10.  I work with many persons who only read books and consider if they are Bible based that they are not fiction (even if the book says that they ARE fiction).  I am sure that if they read a book which is non-fiction they would not look up and see if everything is as is written or if it has been embellished for interest.  This is concerning to me about this work even though I enjoyed reading the book and learned much from it.

This book was provided for this review from Booksneeze.

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould is the first installment of a new series by this author.  Cate is a feisty young woman of the Amish faith.  When she was just 12 her mother died leaving Cate and her father to raise her new baby sister, Betsy.  Cate did the very best that she could do as a young girl being forced into the adult world too soon but she soon learned that a quick temper and a controlling manner got things done but did not impress the young men around her.  As little sister Betsy grew into a pretty teenager she found that Betsy with her flirty ways attracted boys like flies to honey and Cate was alone in the house with her father.  Betsy easily picked up cooking and sewing and all the ways of a woman of the home and Cate found she was drawn more to the bookkeeping of her father’s business.  Cate was a reader and stayed to herself and Betsy loved the social world of attending the singings of the Amish world.  That all changed when Pete came into town and Cate finds herself being drawn to him.  Then their father’s edict that Cate must marry before Betsy and that Betsy may not go to social events unless Cate is also socially active brings stress onto both girls.  They realize their father loves them and the community has been gossiping that he did a poor job raising his girls is stressing him. 

This was a great start to what appears to be a good series.  The reader can imagine all sorts of new twists and turns that could happen in the series.  It will be looked forward to by this reader for sure.  Thank you to Ms Gould for having the foresight to have so many facets presented into this new series.  Good luck Ms Gould and write fast so we can read more on this dynamic family.

I received this book from Bethany House for this review.

A Clearing in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick

A Clearing in the Wild by Jane Kirkpatrick is a book based on a true story of the settling of the Oregon Territory in 1853 by a religious group from Bethel, Missouri.  The people of Bethel live a life of simple living for the good of the community and generously reaching out to others to   come live with them.  Nothing in the community is owned personally but all is communally shared. They have a leader who makes all the rules for the group and is not to be questioned even by the men.  Emma Wagoner is a 17 year old girl of Bethel who must constantly reign herself in.  She would like to be outspoken of her feelings of skepticism of their leader.  Emma has finally caught the eye of Christian Geisy a good looking man who is much older than she.  Christian has just returned from a mission for Bethel.  Christian soon asks Emma to marry and she quickly accepts as well as her father agrees to this arrangement but the leader, Wilhelm Keil refuses to marry them.  The couple marry anyway using a justice of the peace.  Father Keil decides to move the whole group to Oregon because of growing concerns regarding the slavery question.  He chooses a scouting group and Christian is among them.  Emma protests then figures out a way to become the only woman in the scouting group to venture out to the west.  She finds hardship that is much worse than she could have imagined.

Ms Kirkpatrick you have written such a good book mixing fact and fiction to make the reader feel a part of this trip and the first 2 years of the settlement in Oregon.  Though Kirkpatrick had to fictionalize the story it reads very true to life.  It tells of the hardship not only of the times but of being a woman who cannot express her thoughts because women were not able to make decisions even those which concern her.  A woman in Bethel was even further censored than the general women of the day.  Such a hard life being a woman was at this time.  Thank you Ms Kirkpatrick for writing such a good book for us.

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan is a book promising the reader to have a better understanding of the major world beliefs in just minutes per day.  It has 40 short reading which one is suggested to read one per day.  The first 2 chapters describes religion and further informs the reader why the reader  should be interested in learning of the majors religions such as your local neighborhood, workplace and your child’s public school may expose you to them and therefore needing to understand at least a passing acquaintance with the religion.  It helps to clear up any misunderstandings of the religion and report how they differ from your religion.

Understanding World Religions is a quick daily read to give a very superficial understanding of each religion.  It is not for in-depth study and so the reader should not expect to learn everything there is to know on each religion but it does a very good job of helping to understand the basics of each religion.  It seems to start slow in the first 2 chapters but after that I enjoyed learning of each religion as introduced.  It seems to flow well from chapter to chapter.  I would recommend reading for anyone wanting to have a quick education on the various religions one might encounter in America or while traveling abroad.

I received this book for this review from Bethany House which is a division of Baker Publishing Grou

When Your Parent Becomes Your Child--A Journey of Faith Through My Mother's Dementia by Ken Abraham

When Your Parent Becomes Your Child by Ken Abraham is a look at living life as a caretaker of a family member with dementia.  This book takes the reader from the early parts of dementia when people are looking at aging people and wondering if they are getting a little forgetful or paranoid and takes you right through to death.  This story looks at the physical as well as mental debility of this disease.  It looks at the decision making that must take place though the author is obviously a person of financial means and had many benefits not available to some even of average incomes.  The reader will look at how faith can carry both the caretaker as well as the victim through the horrible ravages of this disease.   Mr. Abraham looks at his own feelings about death and dying in an honest way.   He is blessed in that it would appear his family was in complete agreement in the decision making as each one occurs.  That doesn’t always happen in family no matter how loving they may have been before the disease. 

This is a book that I can’t say that I enjoyed reading but it is a book that should be read by those who are facing the death of a family member from most any disease.  Some of the decisions made in the book though may not be the decision of the reader need to be dealt with in a way that is best for each family.  Mr. Abraham brings to the discussion how he came to decide on many of his decisions and he looks at the pros and cons each. 

I was provided this book by Booksneeze for this review.

Daybreak by Shelley Shepard Gray

Daybreak by Shelley Shepard Gray is an Amish love story and unlike most it is of the New Order as opposed to the Old Order Amish.  The people in this story have more freedoms and can more decide on their own what path they wish to take in life.  This is the first of a new series called the Day of Reckoning.    The Keim family is much looked up to in this community but like any family they are not as perfect as would seem from the outside.  The generations which follow the first have difficulties attempting to maintain perfection and this is the story of their failure to attain perfect as well as how they try to cope.  Viola Keim is of the 3^rd generation and at the age of 22 is beginning to feel that she may never find love until she meets the son of one of her favorite residents at the Mennonite retirement home where she works.  Her family life has begun to crumble as they attempt to deal with her father’s drinking as well as her twin sister’s failing eyesight.  The family has just found a picture of their family matriarch dressed as an Englisher and she continues to deny any explanation of why she had her picture taken and why she is dressed in a graduation gown.  Dark secrets from the past continue to be uncovered as the family try to cope.

I liked this book.  It seemed believable as opposed to the perfect life often depicted in Amish love stories.  The story is a quick read—I read it in a couple of settings.  I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the 2^nd installment of the series.

I received this book from HarperCollins Publishers for this review.

The Purpose Driven Life expanded edition by Rick Warren

The Purpose Driven Life expanded edition by Rick Warren is a guide for a 42 day spiritual reflection upon your life and discovery of your purpose for living this life.  Mr. Warren is the pastor at Saddleback Church in California.  He takes the reader through this journey of life’s purpose in 42 days.  It is suggested in the first few pages not to try to read/study this book any quicker because as explained in the beginning of the book the Bible considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period.  God would ask each person in the Bible to spend 40 days to prepare oneself for a new purpose.  Mr. Warren asks the reader to do the same.  There are scriptural passages to also read in the guide in the back of the book as well as messages to listen to online.  The day’s devotion can be spent in as little as 15 minutes to get the day’s message or more in-depth time can be spent using all the resources provided.  It is also suggested that the scriptures should be read in various differ translations or paraphrases.  Each chapter also begins with a QR code which can be scanned with your smartphone so that you can listen to a 3 minute video for the chapter.  This is an easy to understand new version of the book released 10 years ago which incorporates the newer technology available to most people today. This is a book that can be read by oneself for self reflection by yourself but it is suggested that more can be gleaned when read for a group discussion/devotional study. 

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to.  I was surprised at how this book could direct me on a more fulfilling pathway to God and understanding my purpose without being preachy.  Mr. Warren writes in an upbeat way without being wishy-washy which I appreciated.  I plan to reread this book slower as the writer intended in a group setting with a small group study.  I had not read the first book so I cannot say whether the changes made the book better but I can say that this book has improved my philosophy on life.  Thank you for taking the time, Mr. Warren, in updating your popular book.

This book was provided for this review by Booksneeze.

Dear Deb by Margaret Terry

Dear Deb by Margaret Terry is a book of letters written to a friend who was dying of cancer.  These letters reveal the life that she lived good and not so good.  They also reveal glimpses into every woman’s life—oh the same exact thing may not have happened maybe your husband didn’t shock you into depression by asking for a divorce out of the blue but something else equally difficult to live though has happened to every woman.  This is the story of a woman who made it through and lived.  That is what we women do we survive and we thrive and we love.  This is the story of one woman reaching out to another and believing in miracles and God and faith. 

I liked this book though it is not the usual helping a friend through cancer book.  It is a book for women to read and be encouraged that they can make it through all things.  It speaks of believing in miracles even when the miracle given is not the miracle asked for.  It is not wishy-washy but what woman’s life is?  It can be read cover to cover or read the letters daily and not in order.  It is a book for women and older girls.

I was provided this book for this review from Booksneeze.

A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer

A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a novel of one family and their friend leaving their dreary life as the poorest of the poor in New York City in 1880 and going into the wilds of Kansas.  Tarsie Raines who is the very dear friend of Mary Brubacher leave for Kansas along with Mary’s alcoholic husband Joss and her two children.  Mary is dying of cancer which she is keeping quiet from everyone in hopes of getting her family to Kansas and away from Joss’s addiction to alcohol.  Along the way when she finds that she will not make it to Kansas she makes Tarsie promise to take care of her family. 

This is a good story combining the difficulties of settling Kansas in the 1880’s along with having the same problems that people have today of accepting God’s grace and curing addiction.  This family has the additional problems of grinding poverty with no welfare system to pull them through.  These people must pull together and work hard in order to survive.  This story can safely be read by any age group, young girls to older women will enjoy it.

This book was provided by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group for this review.

A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller

A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller is a novel discussing life in the Amana Colonies during the year of 1892-1893.  Dovie Cates has just lost her mother to influenza and her father is planning to move to Texas.  She has been living in the German part of Cincinnati but she has always wondered about her mother’s family in the Amana Colonies in Iowa but her mother was so secretive about her life there before she married.  Now that she was dead there was only one way to find out about her family and that was to visit them.  Surprisingly when she asked her father if she could visit them he had said that she could.  At 22 years old she was an adult but as a single woman she needed a chaperone to protect her reputation.  The short time she spends there she plans to discover what had happened to her mother to make her so sad—what her secrets were as well; as learn to live in the religious Amana colonies.

This is an interesting book and I loved it.  The Amana Colonies and their German background is an interesting backdrop to the story.  It was a good quick read at 337 pages which easily holds the reader’s attention and it hard to put down.  I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it.

This book was provided by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group for this review.

A Kingsbury Collection by Karen Kingsbury

A Kingsbury Collection by Karen Kingsbury is a collection of 3 novels by Ms Kingsbury.  These are all great stand alone novels so it makes a great book to take on vacation or other trip.  Where Yesterday Lives is a novel about Ellen Barrett returning to her childhood home to help her family as they plan her most beloved father’s funeral.  The large family works through many of the hurts and joys of their past together.  This one is a real tear jerker so don’t even attempt to read it if you aren’t comfortable crying wherever it is that you are reading—quite emotional.  When Joy Came to Stay is a novel about Maggie Stovall who has a charmed life at least to those that she surrounds herself with.  She has the job that she has always dreamed of.  She is married to the man that she loves.  But she finds herself falling deeper into the hole of despair and depression and this story tells of her journey through it.  Great story of those involved in foster care (both as the child and as the parent) as well as living with depression.  On Every Side is the story of a community coming together to save a 100 year statue of Jesus which had stood inside the city park of all of that time from a big city law firm who would have it torn down for religious freedom.  This is the story of fighting for the rights of Christians within the law of religious freedom of the Constitution.  This is also a novel though at the end of the story it tells of a very similar incident which took place in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

I enjoyed all of these stories most especially the first—but this could be because of my life experiences.  Ms Kingsbury is quite a good writer and I really enjoy her books.  It is especially nice to have all three well written novels within the confines of one book—quite economical.  I look forward to reading more of her books.

I received this book from WaterbrookMultnomah for this review.

Comet"s Tale by Steven Wolf with Lynette Padwa

Comet’s Tale by Steven Wolf is a delightful book about a man and his dog.  This story tells of how Wolf goes from being a self centered disabled man who rescues a greyhound from a foster home which rescues doomed former racers to being a man with a trained greyhound service dog who happens to be disabled.  The book takes the reader through Wolf’s physical as well as emotional problems in an honest yet entertaining way.  Wolf not only learns how to function as a disabled man with the help of Comet as a service dog which he trained himself but Comet helps him learn to function as a human being with much to live for.

You will laugh, you will cry but you will keep reading.  This is a book that anyone in the family can read and enjoy.  I would not be surprised at all to see it made into a movie, perhaps a Disney or Hallmark.  This is a book you’ll love.

This book was provided by Algonquin Books for this review.

Heaven changes Everything by Todd and Sonja Burpo

Heaven Changes Everything Living Everyday with Eternity in Mind by Todd and Sonja Burpo is a book to be read after the Heaven is for Real book by the same authors.  This book which is said to be a devotional reader tells of some of the changes since the 1^st book in their family and how the book was received.  The children have grown into teens but are not dating yet.  The format is a little different in that it also is written by Sonja and therefore gives some Mom details.  This story brings in the rest of the children and how they dealt with it which is nice.

I liked this book but not as well as the first.  One would have had to read the first book to enjoy this one.  It is called a devotional reader but it is mostly a catch up on the family workings and can be read in one setting as a story.  It is a quick read containing only 221 pages.  Any ages can read this book though the couple has also written a children’s version of Heaven is for Real. 

I received this book from Booksneeze  for this review.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product_review?bvdisplaycode=2016&bvappcode=rr&bvproductid=948411&bvpage=http%=true

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

Fever by Mary Beth Keane is the story of Mary Mallon better known as Typhoid Mary.  This story picks up her life after she has immigrated to the United States from Ireland a while and is working in the upper class homes of people who have many servants.  At the time she is working as a cook having worked her way up from the lowest of the servants, the laundress.  This is quite a step up both in prestige as well as income.  She can now afford to eat regularly and have a few more clothes.  She can now rent a tiny apartment instead of a bed in a room full of beds. 

The Department of Health of New York has proposed that there may be “asymptomatic carrier” and has set out on a crusade to find the carrier and protect the citizens.  The plan is to isolate this person from the populous in order to keep the citizens safe from this carrier.  The papers had begun calling her the Germ Woman.  This is the beginning of knowing that germs cause diseases and that cleanliness is helpful in prevention.  There was not many ways of curing illness once they occurred however so once it was known that the Germ Woman was exposing the population to Typhoid Fever great fear spread throughout the state.  Mary did not believe it at first.  Most people that she cooked for and lived with did not become ill—just a few in fact.  When caught Mary was sent to live in seclusion in a 10x12 hut on North Brother Island.  On this island was also housed a tuberculosis sanitarium.  Mary worked for the groundskeeper and finally in the lab.  This is her story.

I enjoyed reading of Mary and her story.  This story is one that should be read by most.  It tells of just how far our world has come in just one century.  Many of the people alive today cannot remember having fear of dying from many diseases.  100 years ago it was quite common to have a sibling or more dye during their childhood.  It was common to isolate illnesses to keep the majority of the area disease free.  It was unknown to be able to get antibiotics to cure diseases.  This story will remind us of how lucky and blessed that we are today.

This book was provided for this review from Simon and Shuster for this review.

Twice a Bride by Mona Hodgson

Twice a Bride by Mona Hodgson is the 4th installment in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series.  I say the 4^th not the last as I hope that the series can continue on.  The Sinclair sisters are still in Cripple Creek, Colorado and are joined by their honorary sister Willow Peterson.  She has recently been dismissed from a long stay the sanatorium where her father sent her for recovery from the melancholy after the death of her husband, Sam.   The only member of her family to visit her in the sanatorium had been her brother Tucker.  Her father, who had been sick, suddenly died and this installment opens at his funeral.  Everyone was afraid that this would send Willow back into a melancholy state.  Willow though grieving the loss of her father decides to stay in Cripple Creek with her brother, Tucker and not return home with her mother to Colorado Springs.  Willow has decided it is time to get on with her life and pursue her dream of painting portraits.  Life is looking up for Willow when she lands a job with Trenton Van Der Veer the owner of the Photography Studio painting portraits and colorizing photographs.  The Sinclair sisters are also surprised by a visit from their widowed father who arrives by way of train wreck bringing along an 8 year old orphaned girl from Paris. 

I like this series so of course I liked this installment from the Sinclair Sister series.  Topics move along in a steady pace and easily hold the interest.  It is a quick read containing 291 pages.  Any age can read the book but probably the subject would interest at least middle school age girls and older for topic.

Interrupted by Rachel Coker

Interrupted by Rachel Coker is a book about growing up. It is 1939 and Alcyone Everly is a girl ready to turn 14 tomorrow.  Her friend Sam Carroll is steady and stands beside her no matter what but he is always so friendly no matter what and it bugs her.  Alcyone, Ally to her friends, has a hard life.  Her mother is different from most people for goodness sake she named Alcyone after a star.  Now she is forgetting things and sees things that aren’t there and she is so tired now sleeping all the time.  Last year the Dr Murphy diagnosed brain cancer but her mother refused to seek treatment.  Ally has been taking care of her mother for quite a while now and Ally is so afraid that she will die.  Her mother is all that she has since her father left the family 6 years ago.  Then the unspeakable happens—her mother dies.  Right after the funeral the social worker the social worker allows Ally to pack a few things and states that the rest is to be sold to pay for the funeral even her beloved piano.  Ally is taken to live in Maine with Beatrice Lovell who wants to adopt her and become her mother.  Ally refuses to let anyone in to be close except Charlotte (Charlie to her friends) and Irene her new sister.  Beatrice never gives up and continues to pray for her and love her and try to accept Ally’s rejection of her.  Can Ally grow to reach out and let others and God into her life?  How can she deal with the men, boys really, going off to war, maybe never to return?  This is her story and how she faces life.

I liked this story.  Ally has many of the same qualities and problems that many girls face growing up no matter the times.  In that respect this book is timeless.  Ally also has the problems of loving people and knowing that they may leave her—some through death, some through walking away—and she must learn to love and trust anyway.  It is a story of growing up in uncertain times.  In this particular story is during times of the loss of a parent and wartime but all of history has its uncertainty and as humans we must as we grow learn to love and trust or we become people who never know the joys that God means for us to have in this life.  This book can be read and enjoyed by all but it feels made most especially for women of the ages of high school and older though can safely be read but though much younger.

This book was provided for this review by Zondervan.

Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin

Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin is just a delightful book.  Harriet has had some difficult times lately.  Her husband, Max, of 28 years has died and her son, Henry and his wife Prudence (of whom she is not close) want her to move to California to life with them.  Harriet and her dog are getting along fine living in the same neighborhood that she has lived for her entire married life with the support of her church and close neighbors.  On this day of Henry and Prudence’s visit, Harriet falls off a chair and hurts her ankle.  Prudence engages her in a bet that if her ankle is broke she will come live with them and if it is not then she will be able to stay in her home.  Harriet’s ankle is broken.  Harriet agrees to come but on her own rules.  She will come on several local buses stopping along the way to see what she wants taking as long as she wants and she will come by herself.  This book is about the cross country trip that Harriet, who has never taken long distance vacations before let alone by herself, takes. 

I liked this book so much better than I expected.  Harriet not only sees the USA on her trip but begins to see herself and understand her son and wife’s opinion also.  She finds that she is blessed in so many ways as she enjoys seeing the sights and buying salt and pepper shakers for her collection.  I found this book well written and entertaining.  Thank you for this book.

This book was provided for this review by Zondervan.

The River by Michael Neale

The River by Michael Neale is an absolutely fabulous book.  It is amazing to know that it is Mr. Neale’s 1^st novel.  The River tells the story of Gabriel Clarke’s life from the age of 5 when he lost his dad to a tragic accident on The River in Colorado.  His dad died saving the life of a person trapped upside down in his kayak.   Gabriel has relived that day all his life and this has frightened him from really living his life.  Gabriel was sent to live with his mother in Cairo, Kansas.  He has a very good though poor life with his mother and she helps him deal with his fears the best she can.  His fears hold him back from trying things that he wants to do in and with his life.  He always remembers his father telling him, “Us Clarkes are made for The River.”  At the age of 20 his best friend Jimmy, who is on a break from Kansas University invites him on a trip with some of his friends.  This trip is a trip to the mountains in Colorado.  Gabriel decides to go even though he is afraid and this is a decision which changes his life. 

The River is great novel and it’s a good thing it says so on the front cover since it reads so much like real life.  I couldn’t put it down except to wipe my tears when I couldn’t read the words.  I think everyone should read it.  I don’t usually read author’s first books but I am so glad I made an exception.  I anxiously await his next book.  This book could and should be made into a movie for all those who don’t read books as this story needs to be told.  Thank you for writing such a great book, Mr. Neale.

This book was provided for this review by Booksneeze.

The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen

The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen

Macy and her 5 year old daughter, Emma have been on their own with help from Macy’s Mom, Brenda and brother, Max since Emma was just an infant.  Macy has been haunted by pictures a boy about her age drew back and forth to each other during every beach vacation her family took from when she was Emma’s age until her father died at age 16.  Her family took one more vacation that next year and at that time Macy wrote a note telling the young artist she would not meet him as he had requested.  The next 10 years she has spent regretting that she did not have the courage.  Brenda has decided it is time to go back and take a family vacation.  Right after the family arrive Macy walks out on the beach and prays that God will lead her to the artist of her childhood.  Three men walk into her life.  All seem to be possibilities.  All seem to be good men and Emma likes the 3 also.  What will Macy do?

I liked this story.  Macy learns that the God of her childhood is also the God of her adulthood.  She learns to place trust in The Artist who has designed what the other artists try to copy.  She learns that she has more strength than she thought to choose a man and father for her child more wisely this time around.  She learns that all 3 men have great characteristics and to enjoy them all in a nonromantic way before asking them what she most wants to know but is afraid to ask.  Are you the artist?

I received this book from Zondervan for this review.

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof is the first book in the Cadence of Grace series.  Lonnie Sawyer is a 17 year old girl growing up in the Appalachian hill.  Her family is poor and so are most of those around her.  She comes from a Christian background and she clings to this quiet faith throughout her growing up years.  Her father has always been an abusive drunk especially to her and her mother.  One evening she attends a gathering and meets a musician named Gideon.  She allows him to kiss her and her father sees it.  With threats from her father Lonnie and Gideon are forced into a marriage that neither of them want.  Gideon who comes from an equally poor family is frustrated by this turn of event and wants to start out clean.  He and Lonnie start out on foot away from the only home they have ever known, Rocky Knob to try to get work in the city of Stuart where he has word that they have jobs.

This is a good book.  Ms Bischof states that she tries to remain true to the times of growing up in the Appalachians.  This is a historical book though I could not figure out when but it would have had to be back quite some time as there is talk of working for $2 a week.  It talks of a hard life and how Lonnie remains true to her faith in God through all her difficulties.  Neither Gideon nor Lonnie is perfect by any means but she teaches by observing her that Gideon’s life is only made better by faith in Jesus.  Good read can be read by all ages.

I was provided this book by Waterbrook Multnomah for this review.

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling.  Whispers in the Wind is the 2^nd in the Wild West Wind Series by Ms Snelling after Valley of Dreams.  In this installment Cassie Lockwood and her family of friends from the Wild West Show finally find the hidden valley in South Dakota.  Her father was half owner in the ranch and had always dreamed of returning to the ranch to live.  She finds Mavis who with her family owns the other half of the farm and had been keeping it a secret from her children who were under the impression that the ranch would theirs someday.  Jealousies and suspiciousness abound as these two families learn about each other.  Cassie learns to live off the land and the Engstoms learn to trust the new relationship.

I liked this book but did not love it like I thought that I would.  It tells the story of Bar E Ranch and Cassie and the Engstrom’s finding each other.  This book tells the story and it is more interesting than ordinary life but there is no completion of a diffident plot throughout the book.  The mystery of whether it is possible to reopen the gold mine is still a mystery at the end.  Will Cassie and the eldest, Ransom Engstrom learn to trust and like each other as partners is still uncertain at the end.  It is obviously a part of a series and really can’t stand alone.

This book was provided for this review by Bethany House which is a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Reason by William Sirls

The Reason by William Sirls. Lightning strikes the cross on the lawn of a small country church in a little town in Michigan.  This strike not only frightens the 3 people who are inside cleaning the church but cuts the huge cross to half its size and there is no insurance to pay for its repair.  The little 5 year old in the church with his mother will soon be diagnosed with a very aggressive leukemia.  The oncologist who is soon to be taking this case is one of the best in pediatric oncology and her skill is above reproach.  Each one of the characters as they pray for assistance hears “only believe”.  It is seen in the graffiti on a train going by.  They all have the same question why?  Why me? Why my son? Why Why Why?  But the answer is also the same—only believe.

Great novel Mr. Sirls!  I was so moved by this book.   This book is a novel, it is a retelling of parts of the Gospel, and it is a love story all rolled into one.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  I laughed and I cried. Sometimes I had to stop reading because I couldn’t see through my tears.  I would recommend reading this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian novels.    

I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher is about a young woman, Felicia, in 1897 getting her first job at the age of 26 as the local one room school teacher in Frenchman’s Bluff, Idaho.  She had been educated to teach for 10 years but had been caring for her aging parents until their death just recently.   Teaching school was her greatest dream.  She has no money and she cannot afford to fail at this new teaching assignment but more than that she wants to fulfill the children’s dreams that only an education can provide.  The family who raised her may have not loved her but they had provided her with the best education that money could buy.  She has decided that her life has been governed by others but that now she is in charge of her own destiny and she is grateful for all her blessings and does not intend to get tied down by marriage.   That is until she meets Colin, the local merchant.

Belonging is a well written Christian love story.  Ms Hatcher has weaved a good plot into the story of settling the west in Idaho.    I found this story hard to put down.    I liked this book and would recommend it to all readers of good fiction. 

This e-book was provided by Zondervan for this review.

Miracles by Tim Stafford

Miracles by Tim Stafford is advertised as a journalist look at modern-day experiences of God’s power.  He shares stories that he has of first hand experiences, a young man of his personal acquaintance who was cured of foot pain so bad that he could not walk and is now 4 years later walking normally.  He told of acquaintances of his who were stricken with cancer that went to the same church and were not cured of their disease.  This book expounds on some of the hypothesis of why they may or may not happen but admits that he truly does not know why sometimes miracles happen and sometimes they do not.  He further states that the very idea that the diseases are not always cures indeed makes the ones who are cured a miracle.  Miracles do not happen all the time or they would not be miracles.  He believes that God works in many ways and miracles are just one of them.

This book will make you think.  It will make the reader look at their own belief or disbelief in miracles and think about what makes it true.  Mr.  Stafford looks at many religions beliefs in a positive light in regards to miracles even when it differs from his own.  I think this is a good book for anyone wanting to investigate miracles.  It explores miracles with a lot of wisdom.

This book was received from Bethany House which is a division of Baker Publishing Group for this review.

A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall

A Season for Tending is the first book in the new Amish Vines and Orchards series by Cindy Woodsmall.

Rhoda Byler has a gift of being able to see things just before they happen.  The Old Order Amish community that she lives thinks that this makes her a witch and rumors have been flying about her.  She has decided to spend more time alone in her garden and tending to her canning business in order not to be a detriment to her family.  She is feeling badly that the one time that this would have helped her family—the day that her sister died and she had that “feeling”—she chose to ignore it until it was too late to save her.  One day when she went into her garden to start the day’s work she spied a young drunk Amish girl, Leah, passed out in the corner of her garden.  This begins the adventure of Rhoda discovering her gift as being a blessing as well as helping the Amish family that Leah came from to realize the blessing that Leah was.

I loved this book.  I have read many of Ms Woodsmall’s books and this must be the best.  I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.  The storyline is well established and well written.  It is a must read for all lovers of Christian love stories and recommended reading for anyone just wanting to read a good novel.  It would be good reading for any above the age of 12 or13 and safe reading for younger.

I received this book for this review from Waterbrook Multnomah Press.

The Ministry of Christ 1000 days by Jonathan Falwell

This book advertises to meet Jesus--a man both fully God and fully human.  He came to earth to be in mission with all those who ever would be on Earth.  He investigates the truths that these days were lived and asks how do these days and what He did and said impact the people of today.  What does He want us to learn from His mission on Earth.  It takes a deeper look at the last 3 years Jesus spent on Earth--those 100 days.
I enjoyed this book, though it’s not light reading or a quick easy read.  This book with insights by Jonathan Falwell, son of the famous Jerry, takes the reader through Jesus' last 3 years of service to the world.  It is only 179 pages long with an addition of notes and a study guide so it is not an in-depth study for self study or small group use but rather a good starting point or all round summary.  Well worth the time to read as well as to have on the shelf as a resource book.
I received this book from Booksneeze program for this review.

A Perfect Square by Vanetta Chapman

A Perfect Square by Vanetta Chapman is another novel in the Shipshewana Series and like the rest is a mystery.

A young Amish woman is found floating face down in the pond owned by Tobias and his cousin, Reuben.  It is clear from the dress that this woman is not from the same Amish community as theirs but the local Amish had no idea that the local police department would blame Reuben for the crime.  Surprising to the local Englishers was that Reuben would not speak to the officer in his own defense even though the Amish community professed that they knew he would not have done it.  Esther, who is engaged to Tobias, and Deborah Yoder and Callie, an Englisher who owned the local quilt shop try out their sleuthing skills to solve this mystery—sometimes working with the police and sometimes alone.

I love this series and so I really liked this story.  Ms Chapman moves the story along nicely and adds interesting tidbits along the way to introduce Amish life without making them sound backwoodsy or too perfect.  It is a nice little mystery and a quick read.  Even if the reader has not read the rest of the series this story stands alone and can easily be read without having advance knowledge of the individual characters.  That being said I think that once you have read one of the series you will want to read them all.

This book was provided for me from Sondervan for this review.

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan is a book promising the reader to have a better understanding of the major world beliefs in just minutes per day.  It has 40 short reading which one is suggested to read one per day.  The first 2 chapters describes religion and further informs the reader why the reader  should be interested in learning of the majors religions such as your local neighborhood, workplace and your child’s public school may expose you to them and therefore needing to understand at least a passing acquaintance with the religion.  It helps to clear up any misunderstandings of the religion and report how they differ from your religion.

Understanding World Religions is a quick daily read to give a very superficial understanding of each religion.  It is not for in-depth study and so the reader should not expect to learn everything there is to know on each religion but it does a very good job of helping to understand the basics of each religion.  It seems to start slow in the first 2 chapters but after that I enjoyed learning of each religion as introduced.  It seems to flow well from chapter to chapter.  I would recommend reading for anyone wanting to have a quick education on the various religions one might encounter in America or while traveling abroad.

I received this book for this review from Bethany House which is a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte takes the reader to the Israel of Jesus day—into the valley of despair.  We are taken back to the Road to Emmaus on a day after Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross.  We join the walk with Cleopas and his friend where they meet a stranger who walks with them and strangely warms their heart.  They begin the walk in despair following the death of their leader and Messiah and end the walk realizing that they are eating with their friend, Jesus, and that they once more have hope.

 I liked this book.  It holds the reader’s interest as it offers a look at the major religious of today—Jewish, Moslem, and Christian.  He offers commentary both good and bad for all of them.  Mr. Lonconte forces the reader to look at themselves with a critical eye in order to accept the incredible grace offered to us by God.

I was provided this book for this review by Booksneeze.

The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer

The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer is the first book in the Merlin's Immortals series.   Young Thomas was raised by his mother only to the age of 10.  Even during this time though, both he and his mother had to pretend that she was his nurse.  His mother also made him promise that for his safety that he would always have to protect this secret.  He knows nothing of his past and only that he is meant to fulfill a destiny as an immortal.  He knows he must leave the monastery where he was raised by monks who felt more about themselves that the small boy who did their slave labor.
This book is set in medieval England.  This book is a fantasy that strives to bring to light the druids life of immortality.  There is some Christianity views in the book through the storyline but generally follows a fantasy druid view.  It is somewhat difficult to follow but that is part of the draw of the series to bring the reader back to read the next book in the series.  I would say this is a book for middle school and up readers of fantasy.
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Press for this review.

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer is a good read. 

Sarah Shelter has lived her Amish childhood with her best friend, Patty.  She had a great childhood right into young adulthood when Patty was killed in a freak boating accident at a local lake.  Sarah not only went into mourning at that time but also quit living her life and started living over and over in her past life with memories with Sarah.  She wanted to move forward, meet an eligible bachelor and get married but everything reminded her of Patty and something that they had done while she was alive.  But that was before Jathan Schrock visited their little town for a hiking vacation in their mountains.

I liked this little quick read.  I enjoy reading of the Amish lifestyle and this one does not disappoint.  It is a quick read that is hard to put down.  Read this one, you won’t be sorry.

I received this book from Zondervan for this review.

Running for my Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb

Running for my Life by Lopez Lomong with Mark Tabb is an amazing true story of the life of Lopez Lomong from his childhood kidnapping during church services in his home village in Sudan to his life in the USA as an Olympic track star.  Lopez, no matter the kidnapping, the starvation, or the hard work never gave up.  When he was in the refugee camp he made the decision to be baptized and the chaplain renamed him Joseph.  Lopez identified with Joseph of the Bible who was also kidnapped from his family and placed into slavery but God had meant it for good.   Lopez also believed God had a better plan for him and believed that God meant his life for good.  This book bells of that better plan that God had and how hard that Lopez worked to get there.  He always appreciated it whenever anyone helped him.  Though he has much materially in America he never forgot the Sudan village from which he spent his first 6 years.  He now helps provide precious water, food, education, and medical needs for that village which they so desperately need. 

I loved this book.  It is the best.  It made me proud to be an American and sorry that I don’t appreciate my country as much as Lopez does.  Thank you for reminding me just how truly blessed that I am to have spent my entire life in the USA.  Because of reading this book may I never take for granted my many blessings.  You’ve just gotta read this book.

I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.

Beyond the Farthest Star by Brodie and Brock Thoene

Beyond the Furthest Star by Bodie and Brock Thoene is a great story of young Anne Wells and her family.

Anne Wells has in her 16 years had better times than many and worst times than most girls her age.  She is currently living one of her low times of spending time trading off with her mother sitting with her dad, the local pastor, who is now on life support in the local ICU and has been for the last two weeks.  The ventilator keeping her father breathing reminds her of Darth Vader’s breathing.  This story is Anne’s family story leading up to this point in her life.  Anne and her family love each other and this is their story of how they learn to love and support each other and lean of the support and love of God.

I love this author duo so I expected to like this book and I sure was not disappointed in the story as written.  It tells of how we as a society treat our children and then expect them to grow up ok.  Our children are strong and flexible but they most of all need to know the love and unconditional support of their family and a strong background of love and belief in God.

I received this book for this review from Zondervan.

Mondays with my Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo

Mondays with my Old Pastor by Jose Luis Navajo.  Mr. Navajo tells of his time of making his decision to continue on with being a minister in the work of the church.  He has become burned out and is thinking that this may not be cut out for him.  He decides to illicit help in making this choice by going to visit his old pastor, who had spent his ministry at that same church.  After spending a Monday with him and his wisdom, Mr. Navajo spends the rest of the Mondays that his pastor is able with this wise man of the Scriptures.  

This book will fill your heart to the brim and overflow with wise and loving thoughts through which to live your life.  Not often is there a religious book that grabs your attention so that you cannot put is down but this is the one.  This book should be required reading not only in seminary but also be owned and encouraged to be read by those wishing to join the church.  It is not just the pastor who works with God but rather all of the members.  Most books that I read I pass on to others and once read never read again.  This will not be such a book.  This one will remain in my library.  Everyone should have their own copy.
Irecieved this book from Booksneeze for this review.

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox is  a story that blends romance, humor, and mystery in one book.  Ellie Moore in the opening has just lost her job, her home, and had no family, friends, or money on which to fall back.  The only possessions she had was her dilapidated bag which contained her few possessions and a small trunk of stage costumes given to her from her last employer, an actor.  When she is down to her last dime she hears of an opening at the Pinkerton Detective Agency for a woman agent.  With absolutely no detective skills or training, Ellie manages to get the job using her acting skills and the costumes in her trunk.  She heads out for the silver mines in Arizona which have been beset by thieves.  Ellie has to use all that she knows about people and the costumes in her trunk to work to solve the theft ring in Pickford Arizona in the 1880's.
I was excited to find this book using the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a large base of this novel.  The Pinkertons have always interested me and to read a novel using this agency as a base sounded good.  This story is one of life in Arizona in 1880 for an unmarried woman on her own.  Ms Cox has delivered a well written story on the life of a female detective working undercover solving crimes and finding a good man to love.  Thank you Ms Cox for this good read.
This book was provided for this review by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson

The Bride Wore Blue by Mona Hodgson is a delightful novel set in the time of settling the west in Colorado.  Ms Hodgson depicts Vivian as a woman who has made mistakes in her young 18 years and feels that she is no longer desirable to men as a woman of good character.  She feels that God would view her as unredeemable.  She also feels that as an adult she should be able to stand on her own two feet without help from anyone.  Vivian decides to move out to Colorado in order to live close to her 3 sisters.  Her mother had already died and her father had just moved to Paris and refused to let her go with him.  Vivian finds that forgiveness is possible and that grace abounds where there is love both of her family and those who befriend her in the community. 

I liked this book.  It tells a story that all need to hear at some point in their life.  At some point everyone needs forgiveness and that it is only the pride in us that causes us to believe that we can make it on our own if we just work hard enough.  We all need to recognize that even those who judge others as being beneath them would not make it in life were it not for grace of others and of Jesus Christ.

I received this book from Waterbrook Press for this review.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate is a novel about Heather Hampton a well known Seattle architect.  Her young life was marred in high school by her dad forcing her to move with the family in her senior year to Moses Lake, his hometown.  Then her dad dies by mysterieous means which no one will talk about.  She feels shunned by her classmates which is nothing new.  As soon as she graduated she left town for college, does well and eventually get a high power job of which she is proud.  She is in line for a great promotion which hinges on selling the family farm of which no one has ever had any desires to keep.  Suddenly the last few days before finalizing the sale her mother and her ne'er to well brother start dragging their feet.  Heather quickly gets on a plane to make her family see the importance of quickly getting things settled.  Heather instead of following her plans to quickly sell finds out background details of her family, falls in love and finds she must learn the truth about herself and her family before she can move forward in her life.  Heather finds that money and prestique are less important to her than the people who love her.
This is a good book about family and love and what matter most.  Heather finds that her family is maybe not as bad as she thought and is reminded that she loves them.  She finds that many if not most of her problems in Moses Lake are her own doing and that if she would just look at the reasons people are the way that they are and accept them that her life would have been much better than it was. 
I was provided this book by Bethany House Publishing Group which is a division of Baker Publishing Group for this review.

Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman

Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman is a part of the Shipshewana series.  Callie opens her quilt shop on a September morning during the Shipshewana's Fall Festival.  This festival is a big week of fellowshep as well as money making opportunities for the Amish community as well as the English.  This was a week looked forward to and planned all year long.  However, interupting this festival time was the murder of an elderly shop owner.  The murder happened to be witnessed by young wheelchair boung Aaron, a seven year old son of one of the Amish women who assists Callie running her shop.  The community along with law enforcement work together to protect the community from further harm as the unknown perpetrator threatens both Callie and Aaron's life while at the the same time demanding the large sum of money that he thinks that Callie has and Callie knows nothing about or where it is.
This is a great story of English and Amish working and living together as a community.  There is a small part of the story that has a love interest but the biggest part of the story is the solving of the crime before the criminal commits another murder.  Great story of interest especially to women of all ages including teenage girls.  It is a great read. Hard to put down.
This book was provided to me by Zondervan Publishing for this review.

Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman

Material Witness by Vanetta Chapman is a part of the Shipshewana series.  Callie opens her quilt shop on a September morning during the Shipshewana's Fall Festival.  This festival is a big week of fellowshep as well as money making opportunities for the Amish community as well as the English.  This was a week looked forward to and planned all year long.  However, interupting this festival time was the murder of an elderly shop owner.  The murder happened to be witnessed by young wheelchair boung Aaron, a seven year old son of one of the Amish women who assists Callie running her shop.  The community along with law enforcement work together to protect the community from further harm as the unknown perpetrator threatens both Callie and Aaron's life while at the the same time demanding the large sum of money that he thinks that Callie has and Callie knows nothing about or where it is.
This is a great story of English and Amish working and living together as a community.  There is a small part of the story that has a love interest but the biggest part of the story is the solving of the crime before the criminal commits another murder.  Great story of interest especially to women of all ages including teenage girls.  It is a great read. Hard to put down.
This book was provided to me by Zondervan Publishing for this review.

Jackson the Iron-willed Commander by Paul Vickery

Jackson the Iron-willed Commander by Paul Vickery is a book from the General's series.  It tells a quick short overview of Andrew Jackson's service to this country starting with his birth to poor immagrant Appalachian farmers from Northern Ireland.  He lost his father before he was born and his mother and siblings by the age of 15.  He was already a soldier for this country and had been since the age of 13.  This book centers on his amazing rise through the military ranks and his political rise to the presidency of the United States and ends with his death at his home, the Hermatage.

I enjoy reading history and so I enjoyed reading of the life of Andrew Jackson.  Whether one agrees with his politics now or not one must admire a man who lived his life working hard for his beliefs and his country.  This story tells both the good and the bad regarding President Jackson's life.  I enjoyed that though his man lived so many years ago there has never been anything brought to light regarding marital indiscretions.  He loved his Rachel until the day he died.  His Christian beliefs never left him though he may have not done things as we would in modern society today.

I recommend reading this book to all who enjoy reading the history of our country especially military history.

To Heaven and Back by Mary C. Neal, MD

To Heaven and Back by Mary C. Neal, MD is a true story of Mary Neal’s experience of her life before and after she experienced drowning, near death and her time spent in heaven and on earth.  She was on a trip with her husband in Chile.  She was kayaking with a group when her kayak became pinned under another kayak underwater.  She was known to be submerged in the water for at least 11-14 minutes as a watch was started as soon as one of the leaders realized that someone was missing.  This book details the experiences that Mary and her companions had surrounding this time as well as her family’s experiences dealing with the ordeal and recovery.

I found this book to be a good read of one family’s experience with death and near death experiences.  It is told in a very true manner.  When Mary tells of her experiences they seem very true and comforting to her.  It is told in a manner of a woman comfortable with her life and what God has chosen for her.  This does not mean to say that her life has been easy as she has went on to have many life altering experiences that we all face in life which are not pleasant such as the deaths of some of her family members one of which is her beloved son.  She tells of how she with God’s help as well as those around her she has grown to accept life as it comes and finds it good.  I would recommend reading this book, it is a good one.

I received this book from Multnomah Press for this review.

What You Need to Know About Bible Prophecy by Max Anders

What You Need to Know About Bible Prophecy by Max Anders is a book about end times as told in the Bible using both the Bible as well as other well known commentaries for his research.  This book reports both from The Old Testament prophets as well as the Revelation of John as told in the New Testament.    You can through reading this book develop further understanding of the future of this world and the next.   He tells of the various theories of how the end times predicted in the Bible will unfold though we will not know the exact timing of these events.  The book is divided into 12 lessons which can be done as self studies or group studies.  It provides discussion points as well as questions to ensure understanding of each of the points.  Mr. Anders gives his beliefs but yet provides other beliefs which differ from his in a nonconfrontational manner as well as reasons for each of the conflicting beliefs in a very well written way.

I enjoyed reading this book.  In the context of one of his chapters Mr. Anders states, “For those readers for whom this material is familiar, it may seem as though we are laboring the issues.”  I am one of those readers that found this material very familiar but I don’t feel that anyone most especially myself know all there is to know about end times and I found this book fascinating.  There is always much to learn about end times prophesy before knowing all there is to know on this subject.  Great book to be read and enjoyed by all those interested in what God has in store for us in the future.

I received this book for this review from Booksneeze.

Confronting Jezebel by Steve Sampson

Confronting Jezebel by Steve Sampson is a book describing the Jezebel spirit which is a demonic spirit of control.  It further describes how to recognize the Jezebel spirit in one’s own self as well in those around you.  It has strategies for how to bring it under control in the church and in the life of the people of the church and come under the control of the Holy Spirit in order to do God’s Holy work.  It tells how to protect yourself and free yourself from those of the Jezebel spirit as well as strategies to expose others with the Jezebel spirit and get yourself free from them.  It further details how to educate those who are of the Jezebel spirit and how to rid themselves of this demon spirit.

Confronting Jezebel does a better job as a self help book on recognizing the Jezebel spirit within yourself and how to free yourself from those tendencies than as a book for how to rid yourself of others with those  tendencies.  It comes off as preachy in that regard.  Mr. Sampson comes off as a know it all who evidently only has friends who have been demonized by Jezebel.  I read the revised and expanded version and maybe should have read the unexpanded version as even though it was short at 191 pages, it seemed it could have been shorter and still told all that it said.  I would give this book only an average rating.

I received this book from Chosen for this review.

Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick

Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick is just a delightful book telling of the life of Hulda Klager who immigrated to the United States from Germany as a child.  She had only an eighth grade formal education but to say that she was uneducated would be a mistake.  Her father had taught her to propagate plants and she improved on that through her life by reading and experimenting with her own plants and trees.  Her first goal was to create an easy peeling good tasting apple for her pies.  Her husband though always loving and supportive could not in the beginning understand her driving force in hybridization.  He did however love her apple pies and became her biggest supporter in times when the community spoke out against her and said she was going against God’s intention for nature.  After perfecting her apple she then chose the lilac to improve upon.  Her goal became to make a creamy 12 petal, hardy stalked and finer fragranced lilac.  As she worked toward that goal, she also worked toward a pretty red lilac and a deeper purple but all needed to have the perfection of the hardy stalk and nice fragrance.   She worked with the community by employing their children to work either with the cattle or in her gardens, always teaching them about her work as she went and giving away starts, bulbs, and seeds which endeared her to the public.  Hulda was a hardworking, humble, giving woman who wanted to make the world a better place by making it more beautiful. 

To say that I loved this book would be an understatement.  This book teaches loving your fellow neighbor.  It teaches that giving something away in love always comes back to you not only in the good feelings that it gives right away but by getting something that you least expect in the future.  But more than all the life lessons this book teaches this is just a good read from beginning to end.  It tells the story of how poor immigrants can come to this country and through hard work can make something of themselves.  It was true then and though it is more complicated now it is still possible now.  This book can be enjoyed by all.

Heaven in Her Arms by Catherine Hickem

Heaven in Her Arms by Catherine Hickem offers a reflection on Mary's story and offers practical applications from the Bible for the contemporary woman.  This story offers Ms Hickem's views on the Virgin Mary and why she was chosen by God to carry His son and raise him with the help of Joseph.  She says that God chose her for her heart and her steadfast faithfulness.  She also offers a 6 week Bible study for groups or individuals wishing to study the book in a more in-depth manner.  This book takes the reader from Jesus birth through His resurrection.  This book remains true to the scriptures yet offering Ms Hickems views on the story.
I thought this book was a good book but it could have been so much more.  I agree with Ms Hickem that not many books are written on women in the Bible let alone Mary's Jesus' mother.  I just think that a woman who has spent her lifetime thinking and studying the life of Mary could have made the book much deeper and provided more information.  I think that any woman wishing to study the life of Mary would like this book but I feel that Ms Hickem could have done so much more with this subject.
I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.

Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy

Beloved Enemy by Al Lacy is a fictional account of the spying carried on during the War Between the States.  Jenny Jordan is the daughter of well known Colonel Jeffery Jordan, who made a name for himself during the Mexican War.  Colonel Jordan was so well thought of by President Lincoln that even though he was from Virginia the President  named him to the Senate Military Committee as the military advisor.  The Colonel has pledged his allegence to the United States and the President has complete trust in him.  Mr. Lincoln also hired Jenny as his receptionist for the Senate Chamber at the Capitol.  Colonel Jordan knows that with the Civil War heating up that it would be favorable to the south for a inside member of the committee to be funneling information to them and devises the idea of a spy ring right within the very committe planning the war effort.  His plan is to use women for the information runners. 

Jenny, much to her father's dismay, falls in love with Buck who is an up and coming soldier in the Federal army.  Jenny is pulled between feeling devotion to the south and feeling the increasing love that she has for Buck.  Jenny is aware that if she told that her father was the leader of a spy ring that he would be killed by firing squad.  In addition to all that, the Colonel is pressuring her to assist the south by becoming a spy herself and carry information for him over the enemy lines.

I liked Beloved Enemy though the story lags occassionally with the details of war.  It is a story of war and Mr. Lacy does  a good job of telling both sides of the story so that the reader is aware that both south and north are good loving Christian people who are sure that God is on their side.  One of the saddest parts of the story is the story of the deaths of Private Mike Durbin and Pal, his dog.  I think that anyone would like reading Beloved Enemy, though it is story of love during war it is also a story of the Civil War and the pain that it caused between and within families.  Well worth the time to read.
I recieved this book from Multnomah Publishers for this review.