tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72795380455340479152024-03-13T04:27:35.459-07:00bookpsychobookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-80584556111307104722019-09-19T12:05:00.003-07:002019-09-19T12:05:46.291-07:00Love Changes Everything by Micah Berteau<u>Love Changes Everything</u> by Micah Berteau is the first book that I have read from this author. Let me just start out with this is a great book. It would make a good study book for book clubs or small groups in churches. I was hooked in the beginning then this book slows some but keep on reading. The best is yet to come. <br />
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The book begins with the author's young life and a story about him and his father and an experience when he was made quite aware at an early age that he had a great father who loved him and also that everyone didn't have such a great life and experience. He tells of being lost in a theme park and being scared. He was taken to a room to wait for his family and seeing another boy who was also lost. The boys could look out on the theme park and the other boy could see his family still enjoying themselves while he was lost! When the author saw his family though they were frantic with worry and so happy to see him. The author had been afraid the his dad might be mad since he was lost because he had purposely wondered off to get ice cream but no his father showered him with love and forgave him for his error in judgment. <br />
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The book then tells the Biblical story of Hosea and his wife Gomer and their unlikely relationship because of Hosea's trust in God. The book then tells of God's love for us the readers and His consistent love for us though He is disappointed when we sin. He loves us and never gives up on us no matter what. He yearns to teach us His ways and wants us to feel the love that He has for us. The author contrasts and compares the love that God has for us as our heavenly father with the love that we may have for our earthly father, noting that some have better relationships than others with their earthly father but that the relationship that the reader has with his heavenly father is only good. All that is necessary for that good fatherly relationship is trust and belief. He loves us before we even knew Him so certainly before we believed in Him and loved Him back. How amazing is our God.<br />
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I would recommend this book to be read by everyone. It will help cement your trust in the amazing love that God has for each of us.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-70364540927073179642019-05-02T12:04:00.000-07:002019-05-02T12:04:33.343-07:00An Amish Reunion by Amy Clipson, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin<u>An Amish Reunion</u> by Amy Clipson, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin is a compilation of 4 stories each written by the aforementioned authors. These authors are well known Christian romance writers because they are so good. When I received this book the next day was a rainy one and I sat right down and nearly read it in one day. It is 372 pages long so quite a bit of my day was taken by sitting and reading but it sure was fun.<br />
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In the first story, <u>Their True Home</u>, Marlene and her family are moving back to Bird in Hand. They had moved away right after Marlene's mother's death to get away from the constant reminders that were there but Marlene still felt that this town was her home and was happy to return even though her father was not. It had been 10 years after all. At 27 years old she was ready to make some of her own decisions and she wanted to stay here so she immediately got a job. Her father wasn't happy but he was convinced to let her keep it. Marlene quickly developed a friendship with her boss's son, Rudy, and he helped show her around and train her to the new job. Marlene had a crush on him 10 years ago and Rudy had never gave her a second glance but now they could at least be working friends and Marlene needed a friend in this new community. Marlene had a knack for running the store and did well but her father kept planning to move away as soon as possible. Marlene meanwhile was finding herself drawn back into attraction to Rudy even though she continue to deny it and say they were just friends. Rudy began to invite Marlene to the young adult groups from church and Marlene felt herself having to watch her emotions so that she would not fall for Rudy. She had just left a relationship in her old home town and wasn't sure that she should jump into a new one. Rudy was so nice to look at though and he was just so nice to her. What should she do? What should she do when her dad announces that he wants to move back? How does Rudy feel about all this? Read this story. You will be delighted.<br />
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Well known author, Beth Wiseman, writes <u>A Reunion of Hearts</u> in the next story. Ruth and Gideon Beiler had been married a long time when they finally had a child, Grace. Of course they doted on her and were completely devastated when she died at 10 years old in an accident. They simply couldn't get through it and left each other and their Amish faith. They had never divorced but living in separate towns they never saw each other. Both were still grieving after all this time but they had learned to live with it. Both returned to go to the reunion but really they needed to return to get their house ready to sell. People were tearing it up and it was just loosing value. They both needed to spend some time at their daughter's plot in the cemetery and just as sad needed to go through their daughter's room in the house. Their niece, Becky, was 5 years old and was the only one who would talk about Grace and she asked many questions. This opened the door to healing for both of them. How would Ruth and Gideon heal? Would they rekindle their love and marriage? Real this lovely story of grief and loss for these and many more questions.<br />
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Kathleen Fuller writes of the elderly Cevilla Schlaback in, <u>A Chance to Remember</u>. In this story Cevilla was raised not in an Amish family but rather converted as an adult. She had never married but lived in a home of her own. She was becoming unable to keep up with all her needs and had recently gotten rid of her horse because she couldn't take proper care of her anymore and now had to depend on others for rides into town. On the day that one of her pre-Amish days friends, Richard, decided to visit a trio of boys were cleaning up her gardens for the reward of cookies. Richard had arrived with his granddaughter, Meghan. Meghan had accompanied Richard because also elderly he sometimes needed help too. Richard and Cevilla spent the day reminiscing before heading into town for a planned motel stay. This hadn't worked out and Cevilla invited both of them to stay at her home. Meghan had misgivings about the no electricity thing but oddly enough they seemed to work it out and Meghan and Cevilla talked and grew close enough to discuss what had been bothering Meghan about her life. Read this story to find out how Cevilla and Richard figure out how to use this last part of their life as well as how Meghan learns to deal with teenage heart ache and go on to find out what God as in store for herself in the future.<br />
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And now the 4th story, <u>Mended Hearts</u> by Kelly Irvin. Hannah had made a terrible mistake at age 18 and shown her love with her boyfriend, Thaddeus by having sex with him. When this resulted in pregnancy Thaddeus had left town. Her church had shunned her and then afterwards they were supposed to forgive and forget but sometimes forget comes slowly. Hannah knew that people still judged her and she hoped that her 18 month old Evie would not have to suffer for her sins. Evie was such a joy and Hannah loved her so much. Hannah had not taken up with any other boys except she had begun to allow Phillip to be her friend but that was all. She just had lost all trust in men. Then Thaddeus came back into town and he wanted to see his daughter and he wanted to ask the church and God for forgiveness. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to hate him. What should she do? Read this story to find out how Hannah learns to forgive and still be true to herself and her daughter.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.<br />
bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-54200502362970047402019-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:002019-04-15T11:41:14.985-07:00The Book of Signs by Dr. David Jeremiah<u>The Book of Signs</u> by Dr. David Jeremiah is Jeremiah's newest book. I have got to admit I usually don't study too much in-depth into the book of Revelation. In fact one of the things that I had noticed is that men tend to really get into studying Revelation and I don't see that much interest from women including myself. This book really caught my interest from the very beginning. It didn't seem to center on scare tactics to make the reader interested. In fact it seems to be more interested into encouraging the reader to be prepared for the end times and then you will already be gone off of Earth. It is a book that centers on what will happen to the others who have not declared themselves as Christian rather than what will happen to the believers. This book centers on how the Christian can and should be fully prepared for the end time from the beginning and will leave in the twinkling of an eye just as was reported in the Bible. The book of Revelation is a difficult to understand last book of the Bible and this book will help explain what this book is saying to the modern day Christian. This book gives some answers to questions that non-believers have for the Christian of today. How close are we to the end? How can we tell when it will happen? Plain and simple we cannot tell exactly when it will happen. The Bible tells us that in very simple terms-we won't know. If someone says that they know then we can know for certain that the person is lying to us. We can know some signs that the end is drawing closer however and that is what this book is explaining to the reader.<br />
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I have enjoyed reading this book of Dr. Jeremiah. Of course I love to hear him speak on the radio also. This man can tell his audience the Biblical message in such an interesting manner and he is no different in speaking to his audience in the written form also. I would advise anyone who is interested in a new Bible study to read this, or anyone who is interested in reading of end times. As I said earlier this book is one of the few books on Revelation that I as a women thoroughly enjoyed reading. He easily held my interest in this very deep subject. Thank you Mr. Jeremiah for explaining this complex Biblical study for me.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-16762412808418877702019-03-17T09:47:00.000-07:002019-03-17T09:47:13.206-07:00Hearts in Harmony by Beth Wiseman<u>Hearts in Harmony</u> by Beth Wiseman is the first book in the new series of An Amish Journey. This first novel introduces the reader to Levi Shetler and his family as well as Mary Hershberger and her family. They meet at the funeral of a well respected man from an Englisher family, Percy Collins. Levi was there with his family because Percy's widow Adeline was a dear friend of his mother and Mary was there because Percy was a friend and business associate of her father. Levi and Mary were both children. Levi had snuck into the parlor and was playing the piano and Mary looked in and caught him there. Both children knew that playing instruments was strictly forbidden by the Amish faith and Levi was strongly punished with a switch for disobeying. Fast-forward into the future 8 years and the 2 are returning to the farm of the Collins family because of a farm auction in which everything is being sold off because Adeline has run out of money. The 2 children now young adults are surprised at how rundown the farm has become. Levi being the youngest is volunteered by his mother to paint the house and do some groundwork. Mary's father volunteers Mary to drive Adeline to the store and clean the house. The 2 remembered each other from the childhood incident but differently. Mary had held a little crush on young Levi and Levi barely remembered her at all but well remembered the piano in the parlor. The two feel badly for Adeline and her situation and grow to love her as if she were a member of their family. Levi comes from a very poor large family from a very strict Amish district and Mary comes from a family that has enough to satisfy all their needs and a more progressive district. Even so the two find themselves drawing closer together and include Adeline's niece, Natalie, into their little group. When the 3 find out that there is something wrong with Adeline and take her to the doctor they find that Adeline will not live much longer and the 3 work out a schedule to make sure that she is well provided for in her own home.<br />
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I loved this book. This book brings to light just how differently the Amish districts can be depending on the thinking and beliefs of their bishop. It also lets the reader know of the differences that money can make even among persons who are very conservative with their means. It also brings to light that though money can be very helpful it cannot guarantee happiness nor correct decision making skills. This book can be read by any age reader but would probably be enjoyed by older teens through adult women the most.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-85161102338433031062019-02-28T11:14:00.001-08:002019-02-28T11:14:36.002-08:00Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron<u>Castle on the Rise</u> by Kristy Cambron is the next installment of the Lost Castle series by this author. This novel investigates the history of this fictional castle through the eyes of real history. In this fictional present day Laine Forrester have arrived in Ireland to celebrate her best friend Ellie's marriage to Quinn Foley. The Foley brothers, Cormac and Quinn, have had a difficult relationship with their father, Jack, not made any easier since the recent death of their mother. The Foley family has run a pub since 1797 which is this historical novel's roots. The newly weds are renovating a castle for their future home and the Foley family has recently inherited another castle which needs to have the contents researched and categorized for sale or plan for the future. This castle has many mysteries which require the main characters to look into the history of Ireland and history of the Foley family's beginnings in Ireland. Ireland's fight for freedom from England's rule since the 18th century is the background of this story. The 1797 uprising first introduces the reader to the first Jack Foley and his courageous part as a young groom working with the horses of the Ashford family. The Ashford family must make their decisions on whether to side with the Irish that they live among or the English who they depend for their security. The Irish fail is this attempt for freedom. The next named fight for freedom occurs in 1915 and describes that century's Jack Foley's importance in the freedom fight and how the family fights with the rebels for freedom again even though from the outset it is almost certain to fail once again.<br />
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I read only this book of the series and so occasionally found myself having to re-read parts of the book. This is a historical romance but it does require a certain amount of concentration to digest it and keep track of the 2 different histories of information. It is simply a fascinating story and because it is fictionalized the story can be more seamlessly told. It is a book to be read when you have time to be able to just sit and read and enjoy. A great rainy day book that I think anyone (not just women) would enjoy reading. The romance is a minor part of what is mostly fictionalized history of Ireland. In the back of the book the author tells which are historical characters and which are fictional, I wish I would have read that part first since I am not as up on Irish history as I should be.<br />
I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-89497414173976710952019-01-22T07:38:00.000-08:002019-01-22T07:38:19.641-08:00Dangerous Prayers <u>Dangerous Prayers</u> has been compiled by Susan Hill and published by Thomas Hill Publishing. This is a book about the Christians in our history especially of the United States and a prayer associated with them. I got this book because I thought that it would be a book of courageous prayers and how that was associated with danger either to the world or to the person who prayed it but it really isn't. The book is divided into Christians mostly well known and each person gets 2 or 3 pages to tell their life or lifework and then it is followed by a prayer or song which they prayed or sang during usually a difficult time. These stories are very interesting backgrounds into the person especially the little known Christians who have written famous prayers or songs. My favorite prayer is from Harriet Tubman, "I'm going to hold steady on You. You've got to see me through." It is also the shortest which reminds the reader that it is not what we say in prayer but rather what the Lord tells to us. I wonder how often the person doing the prayer waits to listen to the Lord but rather only speaks to the Lord. We must remember that the listening is the important part.<br />
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Many of these stories and prayers spoke to me and I am glad that I read this book. At first I was disappointed in that the book was much different than I expected from reading the short review on the back of the book. Then I got into what the book was telling me about these Christian's life and their work and it really is interesting. This would make a nice gift for a new Christian maybe at baptism or joining a church. I would recommend reading this book though I would only give 4 stars because I think that the book should revise how they are advertising it.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-19824539074574087292019-01-10T12:58:00.000-08:002019-01-10T12:58:50.190-08:00Decoding your Dreams by Jennifer LeClaire<u>Decoding your Dreams</u> by Jennifer LeClaire is an easy to read book looking at the meanings behind your dreams. The author looks at dreams as either a message from God, from the enemy, or could be just your thoughts being rehashed. She looks at these dreams as being an important part of your day. This book is meant to be a first book for the dreamer to begin to interpret their own dreams and so does not go deep into what your dreams mean. One of the first things to do to decide what God is wanting the dreamer to know is to pray and ask God to help you to know what God is telling you the dreamer. Then the dreamer should make and keep a dream journal. Just as soon as you have the dream you are to write down the dream in as much detail as you can remember: colors, numbers, people, your thoughts during the dream, and just anything that you can remember. At least once per year you should read back though your dreams to see if you get anymore insight into their meanings. The author then tells what different codes mean to different cultures or different families such as dreams of red may mean love, anger or danger to us but in Asian culture it may mean something associated with luck. In the U.S. yellow may mean being cowardly but in Greek culture it could mean sadness. The author states that just as God will speak to the English speaking person in English and not in Spanish that He will also follow cultural norms. She states that because of these differences to be careful in looking up dream codes on the internet because some of these discrepancies could occur. She also states that God will make the meaning known to the dreamer. Possibly the dreamer will awaken with the knowledge but sometimes the dreamer must get this information over time. She does say that the dreamer should understand the dream eventually with prayer because God wants the dreamer to understand.<br />
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I picked this book because I was having a reoccurring dream that I wanted to know the meaning of it. After reading the book and carefully following the author's advice I am no closer to knowing the meaning than I ever was so I must assume that this is a dream that will require time to understand. I also thought that this book was a little simplistic. It, I felt could have gone a little deeper even for a beginner book. I give this book 3 stars.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-9679427377439209962018-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:002018-12-21T09:19:24.865-08:00The Teacher's Bride by Kathleen Fuller<u>The Teacher's Bride</u> by Kathleen Fuller is from the "Amish Brides of Birch Creek series. In this installment Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to accept a teaching assignment as well as escape the family that he grew up. Ruby Glick has also grown up in a stifling home and choses to visit her brother's family in Birch Creek for an extended period of time. Christian has grown to appreciate the ordered well planned life and Ruby who always lived life on the edge and never planned in advance was seeking to turn over a new leaf and start living a more ordered life. Both moved with plans to meet and marry their life partner. Christian broke out into a cold sweat whenever he even thought of talking to a woman that he was interested and Ruby barged right in which didn't work out well either in the Amish community. When one time Ruby had again found herself in an uncomfortable situation she developed horrible hiccups and ran outside to escape the embarrassment, Christopher also left to make sure she was ok. They got to talking and eventually met up to help Christopher figure out how to get to know the woman of his dreams, Martha without breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about it. Ruby needed to find a job but no one would hire her since she was so chaotic. When Christopher hurt his ankle he suggested that Ruby might be a good substitute if she would follow his lesson plan. Can Christopher figure out how to find a wife? Can Ruby learn to plan and reel in her chaotic tendencies and possibly find a love of her own? Read this great Amish love story to find out the answers.<br />
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I liked reading this newest book of Kathleen Fuller. She brings these characters to life and brings the reader directly into the Amish lifestyle. She has the reader rooting for the main characters and wanting to read just a few more pages until the book is too quickly finished. The reader is left anticipating the next installment of the series even though the reader can read any of the books and enjoy them without the rest (they easily stand alone). I would encourage any girl or woman who loves reading Amish romance to read this one.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-3293002936525716972018-11-20T12:59:00.000-08:002018-11-20T12:59:28.172-08:00A Seat by the Hearth by Amy Clipston<u>A Seat by the Hearth</u> by Amy Clipston is book 3 in the Amish Homestead Series. In this novel Priscilla Allgyer is returning back home to the Amish community that she grew up in Lancaster. She has been gone for 8 years and when she left she knew that she was never going to return to the difficult home that she grew up. Her father had been verbally abusive to her all of her life and she had to escape. She found however that he was not the only abusive person and walked into another hard life of living with a boyfriend who drank and abused her both physically and mentally. Now she was returning to the Lancaster community with her 6 year old son. She knows that she will return to a shunning but it was the only way to protect her son from the wrath of her boyfriend. When Priscilla returns to her home she is surprised to find Mark Riehl working for her father. Mark was a real playboy type but Priscilla remains cool to him because she has so much on her plate with taking care of her son and trying to make her father happy. She finds to her surprise that her son, Ethan, gets along well with her father and soon are fast friends. Ethan is quickly learning and loving the Amish language and ways of living. Mark who usually has girls falling all over themselves to date him is interested in why Priscilla won't give him the time of day. Her father on the other hand wants Priscilla to find a husband as soon as possible so that he is no longer embarrassed by her having a child without benefit of marriage. One day he catches Priscilla and Mark talking in the barn and forces them to marry. Will these two who were forced to marry find love? Or will they forever be forced to live a loveless marriage?<br />
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This is a book about some of the abuses that occur when a parent has too much power in the family. It is also about some of the problems that can occur in the Amish community. This book also brings out that people outside of the family can help if they are willing. I enjoyed this book as I do Ms Clipston's other writings. She is a great prolific writer that is easy to be read by any girl or woman who loves reading Amish love stories as I do.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-81185505663916321422018-11-12T12:35:00.000-08:002018-11-12T12:35:37.510-08:00Going Down to the River by Doug Seegers<u>Going Down to the River</u> by Doug Seegers is an autobiography about Doug Seegers and how he wrote this song and it became a best seller. Now I loved this book and I loved hearing how Doug found Jesus and lost sight of his goal and Jesus brought him back to the fold and along the way this song he wrote as a homeless songwriter and singer brought comfort to the author and those who heard it sang both on the streets and in concerts--but I gotta be honest I thought well this must be the man who actually wrote Alison Krauss' song, which as every one knows is 'Going Down to the River to Pray'. Well I was a lot into this really great book before I realized my mistake but I am sure glad I read it.<br />
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Doug Seegers grew up with his brothers in a musical family. His mother though never singing professionally was the most talented but gave up her chance at a career to raise the children as best she could with a hard drinking husband who dreamed of becoming a famous singer. Doug became a hard drinker before becoming a drunk druggie. He was very talented and many people tried to help him get off the drugs before he finally accepted the help and though he was by then in his sixties. He eventually found fame in Sweden and in the USA as a singer and songwriter as he always wanted to be. Along the way he married a woman who was the mother of his son and daughter but he rarely saw them after he left his family--just as his father had done to him. <br />
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This story is not a feel sorry for me book. The author is very self honest with himself as well as the writing. The author now mostly lives in Sweden and sometimes tours the USA for concerts. Read this book for the knowledge of how this down on his luck finally came back to Jesus, got off the drugs and became what he was always meant to be-A child of God who sings.<br />
I received this book from Booksneeze for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-26837829661746870722018-11-01T14:52:00.000-07:002018-11-01T14:52:51.260-07:00Jesus Calling for Christmas by Sarah Young<u>Jesus Calling for Christmas</u> by Sarah Young is a devotional for getting ready for Christmas that has nothing to do with presents (although this devotional would make a nice pre-Christmas present). This little devotional has 50 days of devotions for the reader. This book does not dive deep into scripture but rather has one page has a nice poem or story from Jesus to you the reader. Then the next page or two gives short little scriptures. These little scriptures may be the familiar ones of the newborn but also includes scripture from the Old and New Testaments which tell of His great love for you the reader. Using this devotional could be used for the first 10 minutes of your day in Advent but really it can be used any time of the year. It proclaims that Jesus came to the world to save both you and me but He came for always not just at Christmas. This is the message that we all need to know. Jesus is for all the year. <br />
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This devotional has been made with great workmanship. The pages are thick and glossy. The padded binding feels nice in your hand. The beautiful pictures are on every page. They are of the lovely winter weather that we in the north enjoy at Christmas. This is an easy to read book that could be read to the family during Advent. Even the youngest child will enjoy the little short devotions. <br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-72346423796903706592018-10-15T07:44:00.000-07:002018-10-15T07:44:54.546-07:00An Amish Homecoming by 4 Authors<u>An Amish Homecoming</u> by 4 Authors, Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kathleen Fuller; is a delightful book about 4 different women returning to the place of their birth to resolve past events and carry on with their future. In Amy Clipston's story, <u>No Place like Home</u>, Eva Dienner returns after living with the family of her husband after his death. Eva has been living there trying to help her husband's family deal with the tragedy of his untimely death. Eva finds that Ian who was always her best friend and the man that her parents wanted her to marry has been living on her parents place helping farm and (she feels) taking over her place in the family. Eva learns to deal with the jealousy and mistrust she feels when she sees that her aging parents leaning on Ian to help in their daily life. As she sees this she is also remembering how important he has always been to her and she is beginning to be drawn back to the love of her youth. <br />
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In <u>When Love Returns</u> by Beth Wiseman Sarah Zook has started a new life after 6 years of living on her own following the unwed pregnancy and probable rape when she was in her teens. At the time she had been engage to Abram whom she still loves. She chose to tell no one of the rape that possibly occurred one night when she had gone out with her English friend and got drugged. She awakened with her clothing rearranged but simply can't remember what happened that night. Sarah wants to face the truth but can she hurt Abram that much? Besides all this she is finding herself falling in love with Abram even though he is so angry about her leaving.<br />
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<u>The Courage to Love</u> by Shelley Shepard Gray is about a young widow, Irene, who is staying with her elderly friends in exchange for room and board. Irene is the biggest reason why the Wengerds can so easily continue living in their home but Marcus their only son doesn't trust Irene and believes that she is trouble and forces her out of their home. Marcus loves his parents but is rarely around to help so was unaware of their problems with aging in their home by their selves. As Marcus begins to help his parents more he finds out just how much help that Irene was providing for them and how valuable she is becoming to him. Will the Irene and Marcus learn of each other's value in time to save Irene's place in the Wengerd's home before she moves out of all of their life?<br />
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<u>What Love Built</u> by Kathleen Fuller is about stubborn Carolyn's return home to open a bakery which has been a lifelong dream of her. Carolyn is living with her brother and his family and will accept no help from anyone in the community. She doesn't trust the community since the former bishop tried to marry her off to a person she didn't love when she told him that she wanted to run a bakery. The community had many persons who had trouble with the old bishop but of course Carolyn doesn't know this. She only knows that she had to leave the community of her youth in order to live as she wanted. This bishop was now gone and her brother was the new bishop and he asked her to come back and live with his family. Atlee is visiting his friend in the same community while morning the death of his wife. Atlee accidently knocks down Carolyn and in order to help her starts being the only person that Carolyn will begrudgingly allow to help to open the bakery.<br />
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Each of these stories ends with discussion questions if the reader would like to use them as study guides. Each of these love stories can stand alone as a 100 page novella of their own as they are not a part of longer series. This book could be read by any aged person and enjoyed. I loved this book.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-4446767856648067462018-09-26T12:24:00.000-07:002018-09-26T12:24:47.381-07:00Less Than Perfect by Ann Spangler<u>Less Than Perfect</u> by Ann Spangler is this author's next book. And really is there a better author of the people in the Bible? This author brings to life these people chosen by God and lets the reader see right into their life. This author does not make them merely a villain nor a saint but rather lets you see the real person flaws and all. She lets the reader see the reasons for the person's sins. She lets the reader see why God may have chosen this person to do His work rather than someone that we ourselves may have chosen. God appears to chose the most unlikely person to do His work. A poor shepherd boy to lead the country of His chosen people over an obviously strong healthy soldier who was already leading the country? Pick a prostitute to help lead His people into the promised land? Surely there was someone else. And then He chose her to be in His own linage when He would many years later to send His son to this world. Then there is David, a man after God's own heart--even he had his women problems with emphasis on women not woman. There is no one who would say that he did not love God but surely someone was there who didn't kill someone just to be able to have his wife! The stories continue starting with Adam and Eve and their sins continuing through Jezebel, Jonah, and Judas. She tells their stories then she also gives cultural background for their possible reasons for doing what they did either good or bad in those times. She lets us know why it is so awful to be a woman alone in those times widow or never married. She discusses with the reader the importance of having children and most especially a son. In those times a woman had to have a man to take care of her. <br />
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Read this book in order to more fully understand the people of the Bible. It may change your opinion of them or maybe not but you will finally understand why they may have made the decision that they did. Maybe you will understand because you have had to make some of those same decisions or maybe you just never fully understood the dilemma that this person was under in order to live in those times.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-17053711280808282462018-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:002018-08-31T10:20:49.829-07:00The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard<u>The Hundred Story Home</u> by Kathy Izard is a book that will inspire you to find your passion and calling for your own life. This is the story of how Kathy was called by God to do something about housing the homeless in Charlotte. Kathy was no longer trusting and believing in God the way she did as a child. Kathy was busy. She was raising her 4 daughters to be good citizens of this country. The family was already volunteering at the soup kitchen in their area. Kathy's mother had mental issues and Kathy needed to help her in order to keep her mother's secret. Then why did Denver a formerly homeless man from Fort Worth make her consider that she should do more? Why did Denver's comment during the fundraiser event that she had invited him to speak just after reading his book, <u>Same Kind of Different as Me</u> make her consider that she could do more. Something big. What was Denver's comment? "Where are the beds?" She didn't have time to be running around raising money to build a home for the homeless but she could avoid the constant whispering in her ear? God, whom she had lost faith in, was calling to her to build Moore House. Oh she didn't know that was what He wanted her to do---Yet or that she would name it that. She just knew that the homeless needed to safe place to sleep and all of a sudden people were coming to her to either tell her of the need or to give the project money needed to do just that. One of the homeless, Eugene Coleman was asked to speak at a fundraiser at a high school. "Can you see me?" Coleman asked. He waited a moment and then repeated the question, "Can you see me?". Then he went on to explain that for 20 years of addiction no one could see him. No one but God and God had given him a second chance at life. Then he told the students his story. These high school students gave $6000 that day to help make Moore House.<br />
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This book is chock full of miracles such as that above. Miracles that show that when God whispers into your ear to do something that you need not fear. God will provide the means; all that you need provide is the faith that it will happen. Read this book if you need just that push in your life to do what you are being called to do. You don't have to be an especially talented person. You just have to be willing to follow what God is leading you to do.<br />
This book was provided by BookLook for this review. bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-80355889234028266062018-08-12T11:38:00.000-07:002018-08-12T11:38:12.488-07:00Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin<u>Through the Autumn Air</u> by Kelly Irvin is the third novel from the An Every Amish Season series. In this as the reader might expect this is the story of Amish persons in the "Autumn" of their life. Mary Katherine or Mary Kay as her friends call her has just married off the last of her 10 children. She has finished raising them by herself after the death of her husband 7years ago. Even though everyone, even her sons, think that she has done a fine job of it now her sons think that they have a better plan for her life than she does. She would like to continue writing stories and help run a new bookstore with her friend, Dottie, but her sons and the elders of the church all think that she should give up her home and move in with her son and his family and help raise their children. So far she has been able to avoid it but who knows for how long. Her good friend Ezekiel needs a new cook for his restaurant that he has run for several years when his wife died. It has produced a good income for him and his family but his children are also grown. Mary Kay doesn't want to work in a kitchen all day though. When would she be able to write? An English man, Burke, broke into her home one night and though she was scared she held a gun on him until she found out that he was just hungry. She then prepared him a meal and took him to Ezekiel to be his cook. That started Mary Kay and Ezekiel working on their project of finding help for Burke. They found that do enjoy working together and Burke they find out is a Chaplain from the military. They also find another project to work on that of Ezekiel's English young waitress who seems very troubled. <br />
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Why does Mary Kay have to give up her home? Why does Ezekiel have to continue working in a restaurant that is no longer needed to provide income for his children? Why can't Mary Kay write her thoughts and stories? Why don't the men in her church and the sons that she herself raised treat her like a grown woman instead of a child? More importantly can Ezekiel and Mary Kay find love again after so much sadness from losing their spouses? Read this book to find out how these Amish folks decide to live out these problems.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-66322727140549636562018-07-25T13:23:00.000-07:002018-07-25T13:23:04.339-07:0010 Minutes in the Word:Psalms10 Minutes in the Word:Psalms is a new devotional out by Zondervan. This devotional is a way of reading through the Psalms in 45 days. This study takes a mere 10 minutes per day. Have you every wanted to read through the entire Bible? And didn't make it? Have you ever felt that you should read and enjoy the Psalms but you just can't get into it because it isn't a story--its poetry? Maybe this is just me but when I saw this little tiny book promising that I would enjoy reading the Psalms in just 10 minutes per day I jumped at it. This book brings to life David's writings. This book helps the reader to see David as the man. Helps to see David as a human with difficulties. David loved God but he made mistakes-really big ones. David loved God but he was afraid that his enemies would attack and kill him. David trusted God but sometimes it was hard. David experienced loneliness just like we do. David's life was hard sometimes. And even when David was king and the people did what he said David still made mistakes.<br />
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Read this book if you would like to read and know the Psalms. Read this book so that you will know David and why he was such a favorite of God's. Why God loved him and wanted only good for him. Read this book of poetry and learn to enjoy it as you maybe have never before.<br />
I was provided this book for this review from BookLook.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-72169909738648625412018-07-16T09:25:00.000-07:002018-07-16T09:25:04.999-07:00A Daring Adventure by Elizabeth Camden<u>A Daring Adventure</u> by Elizabeth Camden was such an interesting historical novel. It is based on the beginnings of the clean water act which was made easier by the chlorination of water which made purifying it cheap enough for cities to be able to supply to all their citizens. This book takes the reader back to the early 1900s when cholera and typhoid were a quite common cause of death. Many readers of today believe that the reason that modern people live longer today than the early 1900s was because of antibiotics but the real reason is because of the clean water act. It is so much easier to keep people well than to cure them of typhoid or cholera. This novel tells a fictionalized story of Dr. Leal who invented the first chlorine feed system which could cheaply chlorinate water systems of the cities. Though it is quite common today and we don't really think much about it now, it caused quite a stir in May of 1910 when the courts ordered that it was safe to use. In the four short years from the beginnings of chlorination and 1914 when over half of the cities had adopted the technique the deaths from water contamination plummeted where ever the clean water was available . <br />
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But let us go back to 1908 when Dr. Rosalind Werner was working with Dr. Leal on his chlorination technique to bring clean water to the city of Jersey City. It is a huge secrete because of the talk among the citizens that it will poison their family. It is difficult to convince the wealthy lawmakers of the area that what is poison in large amounts will purify the water if droplets are used. Dr. Werner has been asked to speak to a consultant, Nick Drake, who is working against the cause to try to convince him to trade sides. When the two meet they instantly fall in love even though neither change their mind about which side they are on. Unbeknownst to Rosalind though Dr. Leal is secretly working to go ahead and chlorinate the water system of Jersey City without telling anyone except those college students working with him on his new system. Rosalind later finds out about Dr. Leal's work but agrees not to tell anyone including Nick. Well as any reader can figure out Nick finds out and trouble happens in their relationship and they vow never to see each other again. How will this story end? As we know chlorination eventually happens but did Rosalind find love with the opposition namely Nick? Do they figure out how to live with each others differences? Read this book to find out.<br />
I received this book from BethanyHouse for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-85936171924735187412018-07-03T12:10:00.000-07:002018-07-03T12:10:35.137-07:00Amish Celebrations by Beth Wiseman<u>Amish Celebrations</u> by Beth Wiseman is the next book by this writer. In this book she tells of 4 celebrations in the Amish faith walk. In the first: The <u>Gift of Sisters</u> she tells the story of Hannah and Rachel sisters and fraternal twins. They had always been the best of friends also that is until Abraham Stoltzfus had come into town. Rachel had been very good friends with Gideon every since she was 5 until their moms had tried to through them together and marry them off. It was offputting but then the first time Rachel saw Abraham it was love at first sight for her but for him as soon as he saw prettier Hannah he immediately fell for her. Hannah and Abraham had been dating for about a month and everything was going good for the two of them but Hannah and Rachel no longer were speaking at least not kindly to each other. Hannah and Abraham were a planning a date and not the date that they told their parents about but a date to the Beekeeper's cemetery to make out. When they got there though Abraham immediately became too demanding and wanted more than Hannah was willing to give. Rachel was on her own date with Gideon when all of a sudden she got that feeling that Hannah was in trouble. She tried to ignore it but she finally told Gideon that she had to leave and that they needed to go to the Beekeeper's cemetery because Hannah was in trouble. When they arrived Hannah was running away limping with her torn dress. Hannah then admitted Abraham had gotten mad when she tried to break up with him and she ran and tripped and twisted her ankle. What she didn't tell them though was that Abraham ha said that he was going to go after Rachel because she would do what he wanted. Hannah was then afraid of what he might try to do to Rachel. What will these 2 do? Will they get back to being best sister friends? Will Hannah continue to date Abraham to try to save Rachel? Will Rachel see Gideon for the nice guy that he was and give him a chance?<br />
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Rebecca and Noah are very much in love in <u>A New Beginning</u> and they are planning the next step: getting baptized and then planning their wedding. Noah decides against his better judgment to have another fling on the wild side and go to a party with his friend, Gavin. Gavin had taken him to a party at the home of his rich girlfriend, Penny. When they got there Gavin had gotten Noah a friend, McKenna, to stay with him and talk while Gavin and Penny were busy doing other things in another room. Noah loved the beer at the party and maybe drank too much but not so much as to not notice the skimpy clad girls in their bathing suits especially McKenna who was not only beautiful but also nice to talk to. So nice in fact that he broke up with his fiancé, Rebecca the next day. What he didn' know was that McKenna thought she was just being nice, she had a boyfriend of her own that she was interested. When McKenna told Noah that the next day Noah was so crushed that she hugged him and the boy that she was interested, Paul, who happens to be Rebecca's sister saw them. This story has a surprise ending and tells how the couples end up. <br />
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In the next novella, Priscilla King and Chester Lapp are planning their wedding day in <u>A Perfect Plan </u>but everything seems to be going wrong. The house that Chester is building for them keeps having problems first the electricity (which they won't even use but they have to put in anyway because of building codes), then the roof which not only had a problem but the supplier had sent them shingles that didn't go together and Chester had not even noticed. And that doesn't even count the day that Priscilla had arrived at home to find that her little sister Sarah had cut up her wedding dress to make clothes for her doll and right after finding out that she needed to make another wedding dress she found out that the person who was going to make her cake wasn't coming. Just one thing after another. Was God trying to tell them not to marry? Will they marry or will the fates intervene?<br />
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The fourth and final novella is a Christmas story, <u>A Christmas Miracle</u>. Mary and Gabriel King were very much in love when they at a very early age married. Then the children came one after another until now they had 5 children who were always getting into everything. Mary felt like she was a failure as a mother and a wife. How did everyone else do it and she couldn't? She didn't have a mother who could teach her things about running a house because she had died. Her mother in law didn't like her children and didn't hardly ever even come visit them though both of her in laws visited Gabriel's sisters in another state all the time. Rachel their young daughter went to stand in the Santa Claus line to ask for help for her mother. Of course that brought great embarrassment to her parents but it also brought together coworkers Santa Bruce and Elf Joan into the Amish home to teach Mary how to run a household with their many children. Will Mary and Gabriel accept the offer of help? <br />
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These little novellas of about one hundred pages each are delightful little treasures that anyone would love to read and each can be read in one sitting. I think that you will just love them.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.<br />
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bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-47954126689354260482018-06-25T17:23:00.000-07:002018-06-25T17:23:32.189-07:00The Faith of Dolly Parton by Dudley Delffs<u> The Faith of Dolly Parton</u> by Dudley Delffs is a book written by an admitted fan who usually writes Christian literature. This book on Dolly is focused on her Christian faith and is divided into 10 lessons. This book focuses on how Dolly's faith keeps her grounded as well as willing to take risks in order to advance her career. The writer explains how her faith keeps her grounded, helps her remember where she came from as well as remember to help those who came from Tennessee who were less fortunate than she was. It explains how Dolly started right out helping her family just as soon as she started making money--well before she made it rich--and that as soon as she could help out her community and surrounding area she did. She always credits God for all of her talent and successes. She always says that there are more talented singers than she but that she was willing to go where God led her to go in her career. This book also tells of times when Dolly got down and even considered suicide, even how she was going to do it but that God called her back in the form of her little dog to reconsider and then He made life better for her. <br />
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This book also tells where her faith comes from-her family. She tells of her mama's faith and prayer life. She tells of her grandfather Rev Jake Owens who was a Pentecostal preacher and how she began her career at the young as of 6 singing during services. But she also talks of finding a deeper faith at the age of 12 by visiting an old no longer used church building where she would sit and talk to God one to one and found a different more loving God than what she heard in the pastor's fiery sermons. This book introduces us to the loving God that Dolly found and lived with the rest of her life. Not saying that it was all rosy but always Dolly found that God was there with her.<br />
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I enjoyed reading this book and seeing the faith of Dolly both before and after fame. That fame didn't change her faith and that the faith she found as a child was big enough to carry her into the future and kept her grounded. This simple faith was big enough for her no matter how her life and material possessions change she stayed the same faithful child of God.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-25925415218378417692018-06-13T11:39:00.001-07:002018-06-13T11:39:21.468-07:00Arms of Mercy by Ruth Reid<u>Arms of Mercy</u> by Ruth Reid is the next Amish love story by Ruth Reid and is a part of the Amish Mercies series. Catherine Glick has been dating Zach for 5 years which may not seem a long time to the reader but in Amish terms that is time to marry. Catherine is waiting for her date for the evening to show up at the gathering at the Amish Table which was the restaurant that Catherine worked. The fact that Zach was late was not unusual--he was always late. Just as Zach arrived and the prayer is beginning who should walk through the door but her old boyfriend, Elijah. Elijah had left the area 6 years ago and though he and Catherine had planned to marry he had married another without even telling her. Then Zach tells Elijah that he can ride home with them and then Zach lets off Catherine first which of course led to an argument which surprisingly ended with Catherine proposing to him. Catherine could tell that Zach did not want to marry her. Catherine is embarrassed and so when the chance to help out her cousin in Florida with her bakery happened she decided to go. Zach then decided that if she didn't go then he would marry her. Catherine realized that not only did Zach still not want to marry her but just wanted to keep her home but Catherine wasn't all that hurt. She decided that she needed to go to Florida to get away and clear her mind and think. It would only be for 4 months and if it was meant to be then she would see then. Little did she know that Elijah would be concerned about her going all that way by herself and he purchased a ticket to go with her to Florida and stay with his cousin, Toby. Elijah wanted to talk Catherine into dating him and he had some explaining to do about that so called marriage that he so rashly entered into and spoiled his first chance for a life with Catherine.<br />
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Will Catherine and Elijah find their way back into each other's life? This enchanting novel was such a delight to read. The novel had so many twists and also the Amish lifestyle set up so many problems for Catherine and Elijah to work through. Also Zach was in the picture. He didn't seem to want to marry Catherine but he also didn't want Elijah to be there either. Was it a jealousy thing or did Zach just have control issues? Then the bus had a horrible accident. How does this story end? You will just have to read it.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-32580876760995013032018-05-28T15:49:00.000-07:002018-05-28T15:49:38.924-07:00NKJV Minister's Bible by Thomas Nelson<u>NKJV Minister's Bible</u> by Thomas Nelson. This Bible would be a nice working Bible. It is not the Bible I would use for sermon preparation nor any other talks/ lessons . This very nice appearing Bible would make a nice presentation as a pastor uses it for speeches, sermons, or other talks or ceremonies. There is a nice feel to the leather like cover. There are some resources for preparing for ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and dedications. There are also some sample plans for the pastor to use when preparing for the above ceremonies including song suggestions. There are some helps for preparing special sermons. For sermon preparation I would hope that the pastor would have a different more in-depth Bible. This Bible would be a nice gift for any beginning pastor. I would think an experienced pastor would already have all of this helps in their library but they would possibly enjoy having such a nice feeling Bible to use during the actual speaking. <br />
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Now as for the actual Bible I loved it. I love this version and plan to use it often in daily reading. It is not a study Bible and should not be purchased as such. There is 3 nice ribbons for marking your place as you do reading either in church or daily home reading. The binding looks like it will last a long time and it is a nice small size but yet the lettering is easy to read. The paper is thin and that is what makes it a small easy to carry Bible and after a few readings they don't stick together too bad. I would buy it for a gift for a part time pastor, new pastor, or lay speaker. I enjoy reading this version. It flows nicely but is written in easy to read English.<br />
I received this Bible for this review from BookLook.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-34660809337322884202018-05-15T13:21:00.000-07:002018-05-15T13:21:10.698-07:00The Road Home by Beverly Lewis<u>The Road Home</u> by Beverly Lewis is the newest novel by this fantastic writer. In this Amish love story Lena is the oldest of 10 children and as long as she has been alive she has never left Centreville, Michigan. She loves it here, she loves living with her family and helping care for the littler children and she loves her fiancé, Hans, whom she plans to marry soon. She is especially close with her littlest sibling, Chris, whom she has just gotten off to school since her father had taken her mother to the school where she taught as a substitute that day. When 2 police showed up at the door she knew that something bad had happened but that didn't prepare her for the devastation of learning that both her parents had died in an accident. That was bad enough but to find out that the farm had to be sold and the children were to be split up into different families was the worse part. They couldn't even grieve together for long as the children were divided as best the bishop could do since he thought that Lena was too young at 18 to care for all of them and be responsible for the farm. The bishop could find homes for the rest of the children and some of them even were able to live together but there was nowhere for Lena except for her aunt and uncle, Mimi and Harley, but they lived in Pennsylvania so far away and unable to see her family clear until Christmas. How would Chris get along without her? Luckily he was able to live with his grandparents who lived right next to them but he was so distraught to be loosing first his parents and know the sister who had practically raised him. But there was nothing to do about it and soon Lena was sent to Pennsylvania. Mimi and Harley were wonderfully nice to her and she was able to earn some money sewing in Mimi little shop. How would she be able to get through all of this and not see any of her brothers and sisters until Christmas?<br />
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I loved this book as I love all of Mrs. Lewis' books. She doesn't make her characters too good to be believed but she also doesn't downgrade the Amish in favor of another religion. She faithfully tells the story of the great faith of Lena even though so much bad has happened to her. Lena never gives up and eventually even when an opportunity to come home happens she choses to stay and help Mimi because she is in a crisis of her own. Lena always relies on trust in God to get her through the day and back to home.<br />
I received this book from BethanyHouse for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-42389312760577838722018-05-12T10:09:00.000-07:002018-05-12T10:09:40.690-07:00An Amish Heirloom by Clipston, Wiseman, Fuller and Irvin<u>An Amish Heirloom</u> by Clipston, Wiseman, Fuller and Irvin is four stories in one novel. Imagine getting 4 for the price of just 1 novel. The first one, <u>A Legacy of Love</u> is from the Amish Homestead series by Amy Clipston. This story continues the story of the King and Dienner families and their association with volunteer fire department. Leon finds himself yearning for a family of his own. He also finds himself looking more often at his old flame, Susie Bontrager, who just happens to be planning her upcoming wedding to Josh. They had broken up but remained "just friends". Susie seems to possibly be more than just interested in Leon as more than just a carpenter who can repair the old rocking chairs for her new home. She is beginning to wonder if it is too close to her wedding to call it off because she is afraid that she is not truly in love with her fiancé. <br />
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In the next story, <u>The Cedar Chest</u> by Beth Wiseman, Emma Fisher and her daughter Catherine are working in the basement looking for items for the church auction. Emma knows that Catherine is bothered by something but she just won't talk about it. While looking for items to sell Emma becomes sidetracked by on old cedar chest belonging to her great-great grandmother with a key broken off in the lock. Catherine and Emma set to finally breaking the lock to see inside and find what old treasures have lain hidden in the chest for so many years. They find the usual family heirlooms and a stack of old letters tied with a blue ribbon along with a wedding band (Amish don't wear rings). Finally after much discussion Catherine convinces Emma to allow the reading of the letters and so they are mentally transported back to her great great grandparent's courtship time. As they read these letters Catherine is reminded what she needs to do for her own happiness and her husband's happiness in their marriage.<br />
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The next story, <u>The Treasured Book</u> by Kathleen Fuller continues the story of Shane Broyles. She had lived a short time among the Amish as he refurbished a farm house and then sold it. He found himself drawn to the lifestyle of the Amish and now was considering joining them as a member. Shane finds himself also drawn to Lucy who is Amish but he knows that she is not the main reason he wants to become Amish. He had become friends with Lucy when her dad and she had helped him with the farm restoration and future sale. Lucy is drawn to him but she knows that she has found him to be off limits since he is not Amish but also engaged to Jordan. This story continues their story and the reader learns how they decide their situation. <br />
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The last story is <u>The Midwife's Dream</u> by Kelly Irvin. Iris Beachy is the community lay midwife. She has delivered many of the children in her area but none so interesting as the teenaged unmarried and pregnant couple that she stumbles on while returning home from a delivery. The couple are accepted into the Beachy home for their delivery on their way to Texas. The next day Iris is shocked to find that the parents have left in the middle of the night leaving their baby with a little bag of baby clothes and formula. Iris doesn't know what to do. Her father went to meet with Freeman the community's bishop to decide what to do about the baby. But Iris knew what she wanted to do--she wanted to keep her and raise her as her own. Would they allow it? Would the parents come back for the baby as they promised in the letter the mother left with the baby?<br />
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Read these little stories for simple well written Amish stories. I am sure that you will love them as I do. This book was provided by BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-62735425314327025772018-04-20T10:07:00.000-07:002018-04-20T10:07:38.051-07:00I Can Only Imagine by Bard Millard (children's edition)<u>I Can Only Imagine</u> by Bard Millard (children's edition) is a wonderful retelling of the song of the same title. This book goes through the song sometimes with different words for children. The story line lets the imagination of a child explore what they think heaven would be like. Where would they live? Would it be in a big house with big rooms? Where would they play? What would they play like and would there be playground equipment? Would they have chores at their house? What would food be like in Heaven? Would they have pets in heaven? What about music in heaven? Would they sing? And would God sing along? What would it be like to be able to talk to God and ask questions? What would it be like to live right along side of God? What is God like?<br />
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This book doesn't really answer the questions just allows the child to think about what they think that heaven would be like. Their questions are not so different than what a grown person would ask are they not? What would Heaven be like? What would we all like to ask God? When we get to heaven there is so much to ask and all eternity to ask it in. This book has beautiful pictures for the nonreader to enjoy as well as the delightful story to read. Get this book and give it to any child for birthday or even for baby showers. What a wonderful book for any child to listen to an adult to read them. <br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review.bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279538045534047915.post-7897648660146547212018-04-10T09:08:00.000-07:002018-04-10T09:08:13.293-07:00I Can Only Imagine byBart Millard<u>I Can Only Imagine</u> byBart Millard. Oh my gosh I just cannot believe that Bart invited me into his life so completely and honestly. Bart Millard just in case you don't know is the lead singer of Mercy Me. His childhood was terrible. His dad beat him. His mom left him at a very young age. But this is what Bart did to escape that cruel life-- he went to school and church. He took every opportunity to escape his home and be in church and do whatever that church had to offer. His dad was a great athlete in his day and Bart tried to be like him but when his ankles were crushed in a football accident Bart found his gift. God had given him a voice to sing songs up to heaven. "I Can Only Imagine" is Bart's gift to his father after his death. The movie evidently doesn't show it (I have never seen the movie) but Bart's dad was a good guy who after suffering a head injury became an awful guy then when he was given a death sentence of cancer Bart's dad turned to God and once again became a good guy. Bart learned to love and appreciate his dad during this time. This song which Bart wrote in 10 minutes is Bart's gift to his dad using the comment that his grandma made while leaving the gravesite. Bart gave this gift to Amy Grant to sing so that it would become a great song but Amy in her love for Bart gave it back to him knowing that this song was his song and that this song would put Mercy Me at the top of the charts.<br />
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I would recommend this book for reading to anyone whether or not they have heard the song or not, though I cannot imagine not having heard this song. This song topped the charts for Christian Music and then managed to crossover into many other venues of songs. This book shows the courage that it takes to be Bart both as a child victim of horrible abuse as well as the hardworking man who wanted to sing songs up to heaven and make it in singing and then finally making his marriage be the success that it is today. This book is a great Christian read, a great Bart Millard/Mercy Me read, a great social justice read. I can't imagine anyone not reading this book and enjoying it even though I cried so much that my sinuses are surely cleared forever.<br />
I received this book from BookLook for this review. bookpsychohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649356443714373109noreply@blogger.com0