Between You and Us ~ Review

Between You and Us

By Kendra Broekhuis

What if you were given a choice between two divergent paths—paths that had already been chosen, paths that are vastly different yet have similarities, paths that diverged because of a single moment—a moment in which you either shared the truth or hid and buried it deep within yourself?

This is the choice before Leona—and what a choice it is: a cold husband and her very much alive daughter or a loving, caring husband with no daughter in her arms. Wealth or financial struggles? Is one path worth the other? Which life is better? How is she to choose? And more importantly, can she choose? If she chooses the life she knows, is there a way to return to it?

This story is presented in a back-and-forth between the present and the past. The past shows Leona's life in relation to her husband, David, from before they were married. The present starts with a trip across town in a taxi that Leona had to save for to share a pricey dinner, she had also saved for, to enjoy with her husband. This was the start of a new beginning, to try to step out of their shared grief. Well, it was a new beginning, just not one that anyone would have believed possible.

I think anyone who has lost a child would be torn by the choice Leona was facing. I have to be honest if given the choice of having a loved one back in your life but at the cost of something else dear, it could be tempting and yet not. I think it was interesting to see the whole relationship thing between Leona, her mother, her in-laws, and even her friend and sister.

This is a well-written read that has an emotional draw that will pull you deeper into the story as Leona tries to figure out everything. The characters are compelling and the contrast between the timelines is interesting. Well worth the time spent reading.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

When a grieving woman unexpectedly steps into a different version of her life, she must choose between the husband she loves and the daughter she lost in this brave, gripping novel.

Three lives. 

Two outcomes. 

One impossible choice.

When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived.

Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love?

The Tapestry of Grace ~ Review

The Tapestry of Grace

By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Martina Krahn has decided to do something, anything, to get out of her home and, hopefully, find something to help her husband. She knows his melancholy behavior is her fault, if only they had a child for him to raise. And Martina has just the thing to help her in her endeavor, Alexandertol needs a Frauenverein. What better way to possibly find an orphan boy who needs a home?

But Martina didn't expect Augusta Dyck to have an opinion on who this benevolent society should first aid. Nope, she never wanted to extend a helping hand to a widower, and especially not to Konrad Rempel.

Konrad doesn't need anyone telling him how his young twins need to be minded. When school is in session, there's no problem, but with the break, his business is hampered by his sons' antics. 

The Tapestry of Grace is a story of caring and reaching out to those in need. But sometimes, the hardest need to be met is our own. Admitting to a need is to expose a vulnerability, and that is one thing most people don't want to do. And the residents of Alexandertol are no different. But often, the very thing we fear admitting is the only way to move forward, to heal.

The Tapestry of Grace is a feel-good book. It takes time to get from here to there, and it doesn't exactly take the path that those involved expect it to take. At the root of it all are family, friends, community, and faith. Kim Vogel Sawyer has created a story that you'll be drawn into. You will care as these characters fight to change their lives and form new friendships along the way.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

When a group of Kansas women start a Frauenverein, a benevolent society devoted to aiding widows and orphans, life changes for more than just the hurting people they seek to help in this heartwarming romance inspired by historical events—from the bestselling author of Freedom’s Song.

With classes paused for the planting season, Alexandertol’s schoolteacher Augusta Dyck is glad for some meaningful work to occupy her time. She even knows exactly who their town’s benevolence society should help first: quiet, reserved widower Konrad Rempel and his young twin sons.

Konrad Rempel, however, is adamant that he doesn’t want help. His boys are mischievous but good-hearted. And though Konrad may be struggling, he doesn’t want anyone else sticking their nose in and telling him what his sons need. Or what he needs.

For her part, the charity’s founder Martina Krahn is relieved to have a reason to spend time outside her unhappy home. It even occurs to her that she may, through her work, encounter a boy in need of a family and so find a son for her husband since they have no children of their own.

Augusta, Konrad, and Martina each have deep needs and desires, and each imagines how they should be met: by reaching out or by being left alone. But God, indeed, knows best. Will the competing agendas of Alexandertol’s residents prevent them from receiving God’s help? Or will the members of this small Mennonite community find the answers to their prayers in the very last place they expect—in one another?

Pembrick's Creaturepedia ~ Review

Pembrick's Creaturepedia

By Ollister B. Pembrick

Translated from the original by Andrew Peterson

Illustrated by O.B.P., 

with assistance from Aedan Peterson, master of sketchery

"Since the Second Epoch, the creatures of Acrwiar have grown more and more corrupt, more and more dangerous, and (I would argue) more and more beautiful. I believe all three are true, sometimes regarding the same wild beast!" And so begins Pembrick's Creaturepedia which is a warning to any who pick it up and read it of the creatures of Acrwair.

This creaturepedia is not an exhaustive list of all the creatures who call Acrwiar home. The creatures are arranged (per the author) alphabetically not by levels of dangerousness. Each entry is accompanied by an illustration of the creature. And there are blank field note entry pages so that readers can add their own observations on the last few pages of creatures not covered by this journal.

Pembrick's Creaturepedia is a companion book to the Wingfeather Saga and would be enjoyed by any who have read these books. And if you have not read these books but love journals of fantastical creatures and beasts this would likely appeal to you as well.

I was provided a complimentary loan of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

No Journey Too Far ~ Review

No Journey Too Far

McAlister Family Saga #2

By Carrie Turansky

For too long Grace McAlister has been gone. With no clues as to where she may have been taken after 10 years her family still has hope that someday they will find her. With the war in Europe concluded, Garth McAlister plans to return to Canada. But he first plans to spend time with the family he was taken from all those years ago. Concern for the woman who captured his heart has him returning to Canada - Emma Lafferty is the woman he promised to return to but all communication from her abruptly ended several months ago. Can he find Emma and Grace? Or will the hole in the family and his heart be a permanent fixture in his life?

In No Ocean Too Wide, we were introduced to the McAlister family who due to illness is torn apart by the "well-intentioned" of England. Forbidden to see or care for her younger siblings, Laura McAlister follows them across the ocean to Canada where they were dispersed as if they were little more than a commodity to be shuffled about. But though partially successful Laura was able to bring just one sibling home - Grace. Years have passed and war has stymied their efforts but in No Journey Too Far we are able to experience the conclusion to the search to restore that which was lost. This is a story of hope even in the face of unexpected obstacles. And it is a story of family and the bonds that draw us together. And it is a story of prejudice - treating those who were labeled British Home Children as something lower than the very association with them somehow tainted those around them. And this is a story of love.

I really enjoyed revisiting the McAlisters, it is hard to believe how recently children were shuffled around and passed off as a less than desirable living being just because of their parental status and their economic class distinction. This is a touching and moving fact-based historical read and one that you should not avoid. There are emotional moments throughout the book and the series that will move you and make you think, and in my opinion, that is the mark of a truly stellar book - it entertains while subtly making you think and consider ideas and topics you would not normally give more than a passing thought to.  This is excellent reading and one that should take the top space on your tbr stack!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.  

About the Book:

A family long divided, a mysterious trunk, 

and a desperate journey across the ocean
all in the name of love. 

The epic saga of the McAlisters continues 
in this riveting sequel to 
No Ocean Too Wide.

In 1909, Grace McAlister set sail for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Though she is fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secrets of her past are kept hidden for ten years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth?

After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon—his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart.

To Read or Not to Read ~ Review

To Read or Not to Read

A Literary Journal for the Lover's Soul

From Ink & Willow

This is a lovely book that is perfect for keeping track of your reading. You may want more than one if you are a reader who reads a lot during a year. Or if you only want to track those books that you want to reread (or avoid forevermore) this is the way to go. 

To journal your books one is given two pages in which to record all the important information. On the left side, there is a column to record the pub date, your read date, your rating (1-5 books - not stars), the reason you read it (book club, friend suggestion, etc.), what it inspired you to do after reading, and to whom you recommended it. Then you can record the book title, author, genre and subject matter, notes about the book, your review of the book, and your final takeaway. And even better the table of contents allows you to record the book title so you can easily find what you are looking for at a later date.

This book is soft-covered and has a pretty blue cover that is on the green-side of blue (at least to my eyes), the lettering has a gold-hue and would look lovely on any table or shelf (unlike a lined notebook, which I have used in the past to journal my book reading). 

I also think this would be a lovely way to share your favorite books with a loved one or a close friend. Think book exchange kind of like a cookie exchange where you share recipes with friends. Overall I think no matter how you use this book, it would be a perfect gift to share (or to keep). 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

To Read or Not to Read...

How is that a question?

Keep track of the books you read, record thoughts on your favorite books, get inspired for your next read, and reflect on your literary spiritual journey with this beautifully designed journal for readers.

The perfect addition to any personal library, To Read or Not to Read encourages readers of all genres to immerse themselves in a classically illustrated reading journal complete with DIY book review pages and inspirational reading lists. To Read or Not to Read allows readers to step into the book critic role and determine which books to recommend, and which ones to skip based on their reflections throughout the journal. It includes a "How Bookish Are You?" quiz and spotlights on authors such as Flannery O'Connor and Frederick Douglass, whose published works have greatly influenced the combined spheres of faith and literature.

With additional fun facts and helpful conversation starters for literary discussions, this journal will become the signature accessory at book clubs, on nightstands, and on every book lover's shelf.

A Christmas Haven ~ Review

A Christmas Haven
An Amish Christmas Romance
By Cindy Woodsmall
  and Erin Woodsmall

Ivy Zook wants to leave the confinement of her Old Order Amish upbringing behind - she wants the freedom to be herself. But to do this she'll have to hurt her family and walk away from the family farm. Not wanting to leave her mother with the daily labor of the farm she pushes her mother to sell the farm. But with her sister Holly's wedding soon to be upon them Ivy temporarily postpones her plans.

Arlan Keim is desperate to get his sister Magda the medical help she needs. His family is an ultraconservative sect that shuns everything modern and any perceived sin is met with the strictest measures by their father. But when their trip for medicine ends with a crash into Greene's Pharmacy their plans are suddenly upset.

The Zooks open their home to the Keim siblings as Magda recovers and Arlan offers to help around the farm - milking the cows, making repairs, and helping out with the crops. Can the kinder freer attitude of the Zook's community offer something that will appeal to Arlan and Magda?

 Christmas is a time for miracles and grace and A Christmas Haven has both as Ivy, Holly, Arlan, and Magda all find something worth having. At approximately 200 pages this book is a surprisingly quick read. The story is well-paced and enjoyable. One can relate to the characters as they navigate life and try to find where they fit in it. I really like Ivy and like how her character just comes alive and she makes the scenes something more with her very presence.

I was provided a complimentary of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:

In a desire to grow her budding party-planning business,

Ivy plans to leave behind her Old Order Amish community

and enter the modern world as an Englischer.

Old Order Amish Ivy Zook is wrestling with her need to shed her community's ways so she can grow the business of her dreams: planning parties. As long as she's stuck living without modernization, she can barely get her business on its feet. But if she leaves too soon, she'd cause trouble for her sister, Holly, who is planning her wedding to Joshua Smucker. All of their plans become twice as complicated when an old car crashes into the storefront of Greene's Pharmacy, carrying a Swartzentruber (ultra-conservative sect) Amish man, Arlan, and his very ill sister.

The Zooks take in Arlan and Madga, tending to the woman's illness and Arlan begins helping around the family farm. Ivy and Arlan are on different tracks, one wanting to leave her community and the other to return to his. But both young people are trying to discover what God has in store for their futures and what miracles might lie around the corner this Christmas season.

Ever Faithful ~ Review

Ever Faithful
Vintage National Parks #3
By Karen Barnett

It is 1933 and the country is still suffering from the Great Depression and Nate Webber's family is no exception to this lack. When Nate is given a chance to help his family by joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) he accepts this opportunity. But he will leave everything he knows behind can a young man from Brooklyn adapt to the wilderness that is Yellowstone? He's willing to try.

Elsie Brookes has grown up knowing the beauty that the wilderness can offer and she knows better than most the danger that fire is and the high cost it can extract. She's determined that this year when everyone else leaves the park that she too will be joining them - this year is the year she finally goes to college if she can save enough money that is. But can taking on a second job as a teacher for the new fellas of the CCC be the answer to her tuition needs. And can she teach a bunch of men who may have little to no education? This is one challenge that Elise is just a tad nervous about undertaking.

When the extreme dryness puts the park in danger the CCC troop is called on to more than pull their weight as they quite literally learn on the job. But when suspicious fires threaten not only all their hard work and lives questions need to be answered and fast before a tragedy occurs that could destroy everything.

This book is historical fiction with a touch of romance and mystery thrown in. For those who are fascinated by our National Parks, this series is a great way to experience them at their beginnings. The books do not have to be read together and this book is easily able to be read as a standalone book with no lack of enjoyment or understanding of what is taking place. The characters are relatable and one can easily empathize with the various states they find themselves in. This is a TBR must add title you won't be sorry to have spent a few hours in the grandeur that is Yellowstone.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher WaterBrook Multnomah - all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and honestly given with no expectations placed upon me.


About the Book:

Vibrant historic Yellowstone National Park comes to life in this 

romantic mystery about a man hiding the truth, braving the 

west to become something more—and the woman who must confront his deception.

A man who can't read will never amount to anything—or so Nate Webber believes. But he takes a chance to help his family by signing up for the new Civilian Conservation Corps, skirting the truth about certain "requirements." Nate exchanges the harsh Brooklyn streets for the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, curious if the Eden-like wonderland can transform him as well.

Elsie Brookes was proud to grow up as a ranger's daughter, but she longs for a future of her own. After four years serving as a maid in the park's hotels, she still hasn't saved enough money for her college tuition. A second job, teaching a crowd of rowdy men in the CCC camp, might be the answer, but when Elsie discovers Nate's secret, it puts his job as camp foreman in jeopardy. Tutoring leads to friendship and romance, until a string of suspicious fires casts a dark shadow over their relationship. Can they find answers before all of their dreams go up in smoke?

Get a sneak peek at the book

No Ocean Too Wide ~ Review

No Ocean Too Wide
The McAlister Family #1
By Carrie Turansky

Following the death of their father, the McAlister family had a difficult time scrapping enough to meet their needs. Edna took in sewing while her oldest daughter Laura went into service sending home her earnings to help the family. But when Edna falls ill and is sent to the hospital her three youngest children - Katie, Garth, and Grace are taken to the Grangeford Children's Home. The stay was only to be until their mother got well or Laura came for them.

But when Laura went to get her siblings she learned that she was forbidden to visit with them and to get them into her care would come at a steep price. With little recourse, Laura seeks help from any she knows but her efforts are too late when she learns that all three have been sent to Canada be employed or, if one of the fortunate few, to be adopted into a family.

Andrew Fraser and his mentor Henry Dowd have been tasked with investigating child emigration between Britain and Canada. With more than 50,000 British children being sent to Canada there were concerns about the children and their ultimate fate. Could there be a dark, hidden side to this beneficial program?

When Laura and Andrew end up on the same ship to Canada he wants her to speak with Henry for his legal opinion. But having received no help from anyone of power Laura fears making her story known to anyone else. But with both time and the law possibly against her plans to reunite with Katie, Garth, and Grace Laura needs help.

This is the first book relating the McAlister family's story. As those around have portions of their stories revealed one can't help but be moved for these poor young souls whose life was so difficult both before and after their emigration to Canada. It is also amazing how money is almost always at the root of most deeds of kindness. I'm interested to see exactly how the rest of the series plays out as Laura's efforts aren't at an end with the last page of this book. This is an attention engaging read and those who love historical fiction will love this newest offering from Carrie Turansky.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans--but was that the truth?

After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans' home before Laura is notified about her family's unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.

Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?

Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God".

Reforesting Faith ~ Review

Reforesting Faith
By Matthew Sleeth, MD

What Trees 

Teach Us About the

Nature of God and His Love for Us

Trees are all around us both in the world and in the Scriptures. Trees are a common factor in teaching us about God and His love for us. The Bible begins and ends with references to trees. But how does this impact us in our lives today? Well, Doctor Matthew Sleeth is about to take us on the journey of discovery that impacted his life and brought him into faith and a relationship with God.

All too often we are too busy to see the trees but they are there. In fact, the very fall of humanity is linked to a tree - the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And humanity's fall separated us from God and the Tree of Life. But though we cannot physically partake of the Tree of Life God has provided a spiritual substitute that will feed our soul His Word and the wisdom that it holds is referred to as the Tree of Life. I also find it interesting that a tree broke humanities connection to God and it was through a tree (the cross) that God offered a path of restoration to Him.

Trees have been with us since the beginning of time, in fact, God called trees into being before He created man. Take time to find a tree, sit beneath it and use this time of quiet to talk to God and listen for His voice. These tools that help God tell us His story are the perfect place to spend time with Him. We are to be like trees planted by streams of water and give our fruit when it is time to harvest it and what better way to do this than beneath the branches that we are to learn from while reading His Word.

This is a book that very interesting as the author takes much the reader through his own personal experiences and examples from the Bible. I wouldn't call this a devotional but it could certainly be added to one's daily devotional readings. It is an excellent resource to share with any who want materials to aid them in their daily Christian life. If you look you too will find God in all parts of His Creation. I also feel this would be a good choice for a study group - so if you are looking for a summer title I highly recommend this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book launch program.
About the Book:

The Bible talks about trees more than any living creation other than people. 

Perhaps you've missed the forest...and the trees.

In this groundbreaking walk through Scripture, former physician and carpenter Dr. Matthew Sleeth makes the convincing case why trees are essential to every Christian's understanding of God.

Yet we've mostly missed how God has chosen to tell His story--and ours--through the lens of trees. There's a tree on the first page of Genesis and the last page of Revelation. The Bible refers to its wisdom as a Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:18). Every major Biblical character has a tree associated with them. Jesus himself says he is the true vine (John 15:1). A tree was used to kill Jesus--and a tree is the only thing the Messiah ever harmed.

This is no accident. When we subtract trees from Scripture, we miss lessons of faith necessary for our growth.

This is the rare book that connects those who love the Creator with creation, and those who love creation with the Creator. It offers inspirational yet practical ways to express our love for God--and our neighbors--by planting spiritual trees and physical trees in the world.

Join Dr. Sleeth as he navigates the Bible's trail of trees to explore the wonders of life, death, and rebirth. You'll be amazed at how science is just beginning to catch up to the truths described in Scripture thousands of years ago. Once you discover the hidden language of trees, your walk through the woods--and through Scripture--will never be the same.

Get a peek at Chapter One

American Omens ~ Review

American Omens
By Travis Thrasher

Cheyenne Burne is into programming to her it is everything and her job working for Acatour comes with all the perks. But nearly a year ago her father, Keith Burne, disappeared after he turned all old world on her when he became a Christian. But her father's disappearance isn't the only one Cheyenne has become aware. And when she gets a mysterious message from a "familiar stranger" from her father Cheyenne is sent on a journey that lands her in the middle of a group of Christians who are battling against the powers that are trying to eradicate them.

But an apparently soulless FBI agent who is less than upstanding is tasked with stopping those who what to reintroduce the world to Christ. And no one and nothing will stand in his way - not even the woman he "loves".

Now, this is the world that we are soon to enter and it is not a pretty picture. Technology is everywhere and perhaps the scariest aspect of it is called the SYNAPSYS - a device that holds one's memories and can be used for sinister purposes that the vast majority has no idea is even possible (even most of the programmers are unaware of this). And books are almost non-existent (big major turnoff in my opinion of this future). Anything even hinting at religion is frowned on and highly discouraged. Free speech and the freedom of ideas has been severely restricted due to an extreme interpretation of the Sedition Act of 1918 in combination with the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Social media as we know it today is gone. Amazon destroyed by Acatour. Welcome to tomorrow you just might want to leave it far away into the future but it is just around the corner.

This book is an engaging mix of futuristic suspense that will keep the reader flipping pages. I will admit that there are a lot of characters and one is often wondering just how these stories will all connect which is another attention grabber. This book when ended could easily have a continuation in the story but the storyline that is presented is wrapped up within this book. I think mid-teens and up would enjoy this book if dystopian suspense is in your reading diet.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book launch program.
About the Book:

“This is your wake-up call, Cheyenne. You’ve been sleeping your whole life, dreaming those dreams. The alarm clock is about to go off, and there won’t be any way to press the Snooze button. So just keep walking. Keep breathing. And maybe start believing.”

The year is 2038 and Cheyenne Burne is a brilliant young programmer working for Acatour, the world’s top technology firm. Her father converts to Christianity, and he suddenly disappears without a trace. When a stranger hands Cheyenne a coded message that sends her on a collision course with a clandestine group of believers, she must put her life in the hands of those following a man known only as the Reckoner.

Operating in the shadows and living off the grid, this mysterious prophet assembles a ragtag team to help him take the battle for transparency to the top. With a ruthless FBI agent closing in, can Cheyenne and the others expose the truth and lead a return to God in America before it’s too late?

When I Pray for You ~ Review

When I Pray for You
By Matthew Paul Turner
Illustrated by Kimberly Barnes

When I Pray for You is a story that shares the love of a parent for their child each and every time they pray for them. Each day brings growth and new prayers and wonders. From the moment of first knowing one's child and through the years of change one prays for growth and a purpose that brings caring, love and light to the world.

This picture book is less than 40 pages with approximately 20 to 40 words per page. The book has a lyrical flow that is well suited to the illustrations (or I should perhaps say the illustrations are well suited to the textual flow). The illustrations are well developed, colored throughout with a blend of brights, pastels, and primaries. The friends of the main child that are portrayed are a well-balanced variance of skin tones which is, in my opinion, a definite plus.

This is a lovely story that you'll love sharing with all the little ones in your life and it may become a favorite bedtime go-to choice. Know someone expecting a little one? This would be the perfect gift.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book launch program.

About the Book:

From the moment I saw you,

I started to pray. Big prayers and

small ones I have sent God's way.

With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender feelings connected with watching a beloved child grow and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book in which children and parents see their own stories come to life. When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, while sharing with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them. This is a book you will read to your child again and again.

I prayed you felt safe, full of joy and content.

That when I whispered "I love you,"

you knew what I meant.

The Christmas Remedy ~ Review

The Christmas Remedy
By Cindy Woodsmall
     and Erin Woodsmall

Holly Noelle Zook is determined to prevent any needless Amish deaths, not when they could be prevented with basic medical care and knowledge. The loss of her father has driven her to help out in the nearby English pharmacy for years. And she hopes to further her own education so she can help her friends and neighbors even more.

When an emergency threatens everything she's ever worked and Greene's Pharmacy could be shuttered Holly Noelle has to accept help from Joshua Smucker. Josh is everything an Amish girl could want unless she's Holly Noelle. Working outside the home is not an option for an Amish woman should she marry and Holly is determined not to marry. EVER! So dating is out of the question - though if she and Josh could just be friends...

Brandon Greene is just this close to having his pharmacy license when his dad needs him. Not that his dad would ask but Holly Noelle let him know. And once again his life is on hold thanks to the unexpected. He had been happy to leave Raysburg behind but now it looked as if he was back at least for a short stint.

With time counting down Holly, Josh and Brandon have their work cut out for them if they are going to get to the truth of what happened before everything went wrong. Where was the paperwork they so desperately needed or had Doc Greene done something wrong?

This is a nice Christmas read, one that has the Amish and English life woven together in a mutually caring community that is just starting to break down the barriers and mistrust that have divided them. There are characters that one can connect with almost instantly and see the varying viewpoints from each one's perspective and sympathize accordingly. Maybe everything doesn't work out just how everyone would have hoped but that could be a good thing in the end. If you want a feel-good read, pick this one up, curl up in your favorite corner and while away a few contented hours.

I received this book from the publisher through their book launch program. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of "big box" stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface--and possibly love.

Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene's Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community--a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can't marry and hold onto her professional job. She's Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases--like the one that claimed her father's life.

As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene's Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what's happened and find the "missing" patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?

When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of “big box” stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface–and possibly love.

Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene’s Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community–a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can’t marry and hold onto her professional job. She’s Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases–like the one that claimed her father’s life.

As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene’s Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what’s happened and find the “missing” patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?

When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of “big box” stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface–and possibly love.

Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene’s Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community–a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can’t marry and hold onto her professional job. She’s Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases–like the one that claimed her father’s life.

As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene’s Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what’s happened and find the “missing” patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?

Ours for a Season ~ Review

Ours for a Season
By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Marty Hirschler has always wanted to be a mother but her dream is not to be. Her pain and longing has made her life in Pine Hill, Indiana, almost unbearable as friends and family continue to grow their own families. Her discontent is driving a wedge between her and her husband Anthony. And her faith has suffered as a result of this unanswered prayer.

When Marty's childhood friend asks Marty and Anthony to leave Indiana for a short-term job in Kansas, Marty feels that this is the chance she needs to heal her broken heart. And the chance to reconnect, in person, with Brooke after all these years is worth the time she'll be away from the familiar.

Brooke Spalding is a woman who knows what she wants and she's determined to turn every opportunity she can into a profit. Brooke needs no one in her life, her childhood convinced her of that. She's going to turn an old ghost town, Eagle Creek, into a multimillion-dollar resort and she wants Anthony to handle the construction portion of the restoration. But just as she is on the cusp of realizing her dream of being able to retire by 40, she is hit with a devastating medical diagnosis - cancer.

With Brooke's need for assistance during this time of illness, Marty begins to see that her childless state may actually be a blessing in disguise. But with any restoration project, there are always unforeseen issues to deal with. When a trespasser is discovered they find a teen runaway who was in a situation that made running her only hope of escape. Trafficking is something that Marty and Anthony had never experienced in their Old Order Mennonite life and it opens their eyes to a need that may be one that they can fill.

Ours for a Season is an engaging and moving story as Marty, Anthony, and Brooke all go through this time of trial. I like how this chance offers all to reexamine their lives and grow into better people. I really feel that the underlying theme of children (biological or not) are in our lives for just a season before they grow into a season of their own.

I received this book from the publisher through their book launch program.

About the Book:
An Old Order Mennonite couple's vows and beliefs are challenged in this stirring contemporary novel for fans of Cindy Woodsmall or Shelley Shepherd Gray.
 
Anthony and Marty Hirschler are part of an Old Order Mennonite community in Pine Hill, Indiana. The couple has grown apart since a doctor confirmed they would never have children. Marty longs to escape the tight-knit area where large families are valued, and the opportunity to do so arises when her childhood friend, Brooke Spalding, resurfaces with the wild idea of rebuilding a ghost town into a resort community. Brooke hires Anthony to help with the construction, drawing the Hirschlers away from Indiana and into her plan, and then finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Moral complications with Brooke's vision for a casino as part of the resort and the discovery of a runaway teenager hiding on the property open up a world neither the Hirschlers nor Brooke had considered before. Will they be able to overcome their challenges and differences to help the ones among them hurting the most?

As the Tide Comes In ~ Review

As the Tide Comes In
By Cindy Woodsmall
     and Erin Woodsmall

Cindy Woodsmall is known and loved for her Amish fiction but As the Tide Comes In is a vast departure from this. Tara Abbott at 18 years of age is on her own readying herself to start college. After being abandoned by her mother and going the foster home route she's going to make a life for herself. But sometimes what we plan and what is are two vastly different things. For Tara, she's about to become the guardian of her two half-brothers - brothers that she has seen only once before.

But time passes and this small group becomes the family Tara has always wanted and now both boys are about to head out on their own. With a summer adventure before them, excitement is riding high. When the boys get to St. Simons Island, Georgia, Tara plans to join them. Her brothers are convinced that Tara has roots that go back to Georgia and they are determined to help her find what she has lost.

But life is about to take another unexpected turn and Tara is left trying to piece together her life once again. But she's not about to let her brothers down and she's going to St. Simons just as they planned. When she's unable to connect with Sean and Darryl she soon finds herself in an unexpected situation and without her phone or funds, she has nowhere to go.

On St. Simon, Gavin Burnside is dealing with troubles of his own. Troubles that go back to his father's death 18 months ago. A death that left him with a looming loan payment due in just weeks. Gavin has a plan but it will take a lot of hard labor to accomplish what needs doing if he is to succeed. The last thing he needs is a troubled young woman who is lost somewhere between reality and what isn't. And to help Tara he's going to need the help of his mama and her friends the Glynn Girls - that is if they can stay out of trouble themselves.

As the Tide Comes In is an emotionally moving book as the various characters work their ways through the upheavals of their lives. When faced with change be it loss or gain how do we react? Does it wear us down?  Does it beat us back? Or do we conquer and embrace it?

Tara is an individual that most could relate to even if only in a limited way. Gavin, oh boy, poor guy having to deal with the Glynn Girls. They mean well but let's just say a little goes a long way and he's had years of them. Don't get me wrong they have a whole lot of Southern charm and they lay it on nice and thick which if you are hurting is a comforting blanket of love. But don't make them mad you won't soon forget it.

I received this book from the publisher through their book launch program all opinions expressed are my honest views.
About the Book:

From splintered roots, she built

an unexpected life. A beautiful one. 

Will an unshakable nightmare 

steal it away?

When an unthinkable loss sends Tara Abbott’s life spiraling out of control, she journeys from North Carolina to Georgia’s St. Simons Island. Although confused and scared, she hopes to find answers about her past – her life before the years of foster care and raising her two half-brothers as a young adult. 

Will she find steady ground on the island, surrounded by an eccentric-but-kindhearted group of older women called The Glynn Girls and a determined firefighter? Or will the truth splinter what’s left of her identity into pieces?