Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Miracle of Hope By Ruth Ried



How far can God's mercy reach?
Lindie Wyse is pregnant out of wedlock and thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve her future. Josiah Plank is certain he’ll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined.
Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes Hannah’s special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie are building. Will their growing love survive despite their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?
 
You must pick a copy of this book..



Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She's a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.

This was by far Ruth's best book yet. I could not put it down for one second it was so good. I had to know if Josiah was going to make it. I pulled for Lindie every step of the way.
This has to be said this book was better then anything you have every read by Beverly Lewis.
This is not an author to miss.
I gave this book 5 stars two times, it was so good!
I HIGHLY recommend this book.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Quaker and the Rebel By Mary Ellis



Bestselling author Mary Ellis presents The Quaker and the Rebel, Book 1 of her brand-new Civil War historical romance series, which tells the stories of brave women in times of testing and the men who love them.
Emily Harrison's life has been turned upside down. At the beginning of the Civil War, she bravely attempted to continue her parents' work as conductors in the Underground Railroad until their Ohio farm was sold in foreclosure. Now alone, she accepts a position as a governess with a doctor's family in slave-holding Virginia. Perhaps she can continue her rescue efforts from there.
Alexander Hunt is the doctor's handsome nephew. While he does not deny a growing attraction to his uncle's newest employee, he cannot take time to pursue Emily. Alex is not at all what he seems--rich, spoiled, and indolent. He is the elusive Gray Wraith, a Quaker leader of Rebel partisans. A man of the shadows, he carries no firearm and wholeheartedly believes in Emily's antislavery convictions.
The path before Alex and Emily is complicated and sometimes life threatening. The war brings betrayal, entrapment, and danger to both of them. Amid their growing feelings for each other, can they find faith in God amid the challenges they face and trust in the possibility for a bright future together?

Pick up your copy here





Mary Ellis grew up close to the eastern Ohio Amish community, Geauga County, where her parents often took her to farmer's markets and woodworking fairs. She loved their peaceful, agrarian lifestyle, their respect for the land, and their strong sense of Christian community.

She and her husband now live close to the largest population of Amish in the country--a four-county area in central Ohio. They often take weekend trips to purchase produce, meet Amish families, and enjoy a simpler way of life.

Mary enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming. But her favorite pasttime is snorkeling, which she seldom gets to do living in Ohio. She is a former middle school teacher and a former saleswoman for the world's best chocolate company. Now she writes full-time and wonders why her house is still dusty and her garden has so many weeds. She is currently working on the New Beginnings series. Book 1-Living in Harmony is set in Maine and released in August. Book 2-Love Comes to Paradise is set in Missouri and will release in Feb 2013. Book 3-A Little Bit of Paradise is set in Kentucky and will release in July of 2013.


As you all already know I am a huge fan of Mary's she is one of the best Amish fiction authors, so I could not wait to read the first book in her Civil War series.
I was not disappointed at all, it was everything I knew it would be and more.
I could not put the book down once I picked it up. This is a romance that you do not want to miss.
The characters are strong wonderful characters that you will fall in love with.
I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend this fantastic book.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review. 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Tempest's Course By Lynette Sowell GIVEAWAY!





Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Army veteran Tom Pereira, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore the quilt, she and Tom grow closer. And as she reads stories in a daily journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns the secrets of the quilt and Mary's own sad tale of regret. Then Tom learns secrets of his own family's past, and both Tom and Kelly learn they are tied to Gray House in ways they never imagined.




Pick up your copy here



Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of over one dozen titles for Barbour Publishing. In 2009, Lynette was voted one of the favorite new authors by Heartsong Presents book club readers. Her historical romance, All That Glitters, was a finalist in ACFW's 2010 Carol Awards. When Lynette's not writing, she divides her time between editing medical reports and chasing down news stories for the Copperas Cove Leader-Press. Lynette was born in Massachusetts, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country with her husband and a herd of cats who have them well-trained. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip.
You can find Lynette at her Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor


I was not a fan of the character  Kelly. I would have liked for her to be more of an overcomer.
I did really enjoy the wonderful quilt restoration in the story.I have really enjoyed most of the Quilts of Love series books and this one is one that I think most of you will enjoy as well.
I gave this book 4 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn media for my honest review.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Shadowed By Grace By Cara Putman GIVEAWAY!



Shadowed by Grace is a dramatic story inspired by the Monuments Men of World War II by acclaimed author Cara C. Putman. Desperate to save her dying mother, Rachel accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy to capture images dangerously close to the front lines of WWII. Her real motive – to find the father she never knew -- an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive. It’s an unlikely situation for love and faith to flourish, but soon Rachel not only finds herself, but also her long-lost earthly father, and ultimately, the man her Heavenly father created to cherish and provide for her.

Pick up your copy here




Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I've been writing books.

Shadowed by Grace is my 17th novel and a story of my heart. I have also written one non-fiction title (the Complete Idiots Guide to Business Law).

In addition to writing, I am an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women's ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!) and George Mason Law School. Because I had a few spare moments, I am now in Purdue University's MBA program. You can learn more about my books at http://www.caraputman.com.

Shadowed by Grace has a very neat plot line. Cara is a very talented author. She sucks you in and you go back in time in the book as if you were really there lost in the pages.
Are you a fan of war crimes, and WW2 stories, and do you love historical fiction? If you said yes then this is your book. You will love it and you will not be able to put it down.
I recommend this book and I gave it 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn media for my honest review.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Healing Grace By Beth Shriver GIVEAWAY!



Can Abby overcome the pain caused by her father and find acceptance among the Amish? Abby finds more than love and safety when she meets Mose, as she struggles with the faith she left behind after the death of her mother. After time spent with Mose and his family she knows she has to make a choice. Will Abby stay with Mose or go back to her sick father who needs her.

SERIES DESCRIPTION
The Touch of Grace trilogy series is about three faithful women who, when faced with three separate hardships, are torn between the men they love and staying true to themselves. Grace saves. Even in a world where retribution is almost expected, the Amish demonstrate that all can be pardoned, by following their vow of no resistance which shows the deep-rooted forgiveness within them.
 
Pick up your copy here



Best selling author, Beth Shriver, wrote her first novel in 2002 and a year later it was published. She was a caseworker before starting a family, grew up in Nebraska, and now lives in Texas. She became interested in writing about the Amish when researching her family history and found she was related to the the Glick families in Europe.

Beth also freelances for the local papers in her area, writes columns, devotionals, and novels in a variety of genres in both fiction and nonfiction.
Beth followed her passion and now writes full time.

Beth has plenty of company when she writes, with her two cats and a beagle. She visits Amish communities in her area and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When not spending time with her family or friends she helps feed the homeless in South Dallas.

Well friends Beth has sure done it again, this is a fantastic end to the Touch of Grace series.
I fell in love with Mose and Abby and I am sure you will love them as well.
Beth has a way of drawing you into the story and you are living right in each moment of the story.
I enjoyed watching the challenges that Abby and Mose have play out on each page.
This is a story your going to get wrapped up in and enjoy to the very last page.
Don't miss any of the books in the Touch of Grace series they are all fantastic 5 star reads.
I have this book 5 stars and I highly recommend it.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Womens & Lemons Your Time is Now By Janice Walker GIVEAWAY!




*HAVE YOU HEARD 50 IS THE NEW 30!! THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WOMAN IN HER 50s, THE QUINTASTIC WOMAN, BUT IT IS A MUST-READ BOOK FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO WANTS TO BEGIN A NEW ADVENTURE AND LIVE HER DREAM!

**This book is interactive and you will need to order the WOMENS & LEMONS ADVENTURE JOURNAL with the book. The journals can be found by searching Amazon's All Departments category and searching the following: "womens and lemons adventure journal."
 
 
Remember, you will definitely want to order the Adventure Journal, which comes in 5 exclusive W&L's styles for you to write your answers to the Action Steps. And for you diehard women who are more than ready and eager to begin your adventure, there is a Womens & Lemons Adventure Poster for you to take that extra special step to embrace your new and exciting Adventure!!  (use this name to find it on Amazon) was designed as a companion to the book for you to write your answers to the book's many Action Steps. So order the journal when you order the book!

YOUR TIME IS NOW!!
With this book, you will begin
YOUR ADVENTURE to live YOUR DREAM!!

This book was specifically written for YOU, the Quintastic Woman. You are the fantastic woman in your 50s (although it applies to women in their 40s as well) who has been a trailblazer on life's path up until now. Reading this book will lead you down a path to dig deep inside and bring to your consciousness those long-abandoned passions, ideas, and desires that you have voluntarily relinquished and sacrificed in order to be everything to everybody. You have lived for everyone else up until now! Your Time is Now!

Perhaps for the first time in the 21st Century, this book encourages the Quintastic Woman to give herself permission to feel hope about her future and the unlimited possibilities; she can finally appreciate who she is now, which should motivate her to pursue her dream.

As a Quintastic Woman, are you thinking: What's next for me? What am I going to do at this stage in my life? What do I want? If you want to enjoy life like you never thought possible at this mature stage, Womens & Lemons is for you. Reading this book will affirm you, show you how to appreciate you, and help you to realize how much potential you have at this Quintastic Stage to live your dream; IT'S NOT TOO LATE, YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! You've made enough lemonade with the lemons that life has thrown at you. Now it's time for you to squeeze the juice out of life and those lemons and enjoy all that life has to offer you; you deserve that!!

Strap on your seatbelt because with Womens & Lemons you are in for the ride of your life!
 
Pick up your copy here
 
 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

An Amish Miracle By Mary Ellis, Ruth Reid, and Beth Wiseman



“Always His Providence” by Ruth Reid
Widow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She’s prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn’t willing to request money from the community’s widow fund. She’s embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.
“Always in My Heart” by Mary Ellis
Hope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She’s hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn’t a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.
“Always Beautiful” by Beth Wiseman
Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She’s finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?
 
You must pick up your copy here

Mary Ellis grew up close to the eastern Ohio Amish community, Geauga County, where her parents often took her to farmer's markets and woodworking fairs. She loved their peaceful, agrarian lifestyle, their respect for the land, and their strong sense of Christian community.
She and her husband now live close to the largest population of Amish in the country--a four-county area in central Ohio. They often take weekend trips to purchase produce, meet Amish families, and enjoy a simpler way of life.
Mary enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming. But her favorite pasttime is snorkeling, which she seldom gets to do living in Ohio. She is a former middle school teacher and a former saleswoman for the world's best chocolate company. Now she writes full-time and wonders why her house is still dusty and her garden has so many weeds. She is currently working on the New Beginnings series. Book 1-Living in Harmony is set in Maine and released in August. Book 2-Love Comes to Paradise is set in Missouri and will release in Feb 2013. Book 3-A Little Bit of Paradise is set in Kentucky and will release in July of 2013.
 
Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She's a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.
 
Award-winning, best-selling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but her most recent novels, Need You Now and The House that Love Built, are contemporaries set in small Texas towns. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's highly-anticipated novel, The Promise, is inspired by a true story. Twitter: @bethwiseman Facebook: Fans-of-Beth-Wiseman
 
WARNING: You can not put this book down once you crack it open and start reading it until the very last page!
I don't even know where to start with this review, you all already know Mary is on top of my favorite author list but what you don't know is Ruth Reid is just as a great as Mary, the stories in this book were way to short for me( I do not like when talented authors write novellas). But the great thing about this book is the characters carry over in to the next authors novella. All three stories were great. I fell in love with Hope in "Always in my Heart" and then Rosa and Adam in "Always His Provision" And you can't help but love Becky in Always Beautiful.
This best part of this book is that  in all three stories the characters intertwined.
I loved this book and I will of course keep a copy on my own book shelf forever. So that I can reread it over again each year.
I gave this book 5 stars and I gave all three novellas 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by one of the authors for my honest review.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Waiting for Belinda By June B. Belfie GIVEAWAY!


Belinda Glick, a lovely Amish girl from Ohio, decides to explore the other world during the time of her Rumspringa. In her desire to ‘just have fun’ she risks having her naiveté challenged by Dan, a young college student. Her parents are distraught over their daughter’s rebellious behavior and decide to send her to Lancaster County, PA, to stay with her Aunt Emma and Uncle Gabe until she learns to behave with more maturity. The Zook family takes her under their wing and she finds herself needed when one of the Zook sisters gives birth. While in Pennsylvania, Belinda discovers a new crowd, but will she fit in with the English ways? How firm are her moral values? Strong enough to keep her pure? A young man she befriends speaks to her of his love, but who will win over the heart of this challenging young woman?
 
Pick up your copy here



 
June Belfie is addicted to writing. Rarely does a day go by without Ms. Belfie spending time on her exciting new career.

A music major in school, she later turned to oil painting and sold many at her Inn in the Poconos, where she and her husband Jim spent eleven exciting years creating a get-away haven for weary New Yorkers and Philadelphians, as well as travelers from all walks of life. Ms. Belfie recently published her memoir about inn-keeping called, "Inn Sane," available now as an ebook or in paper.

"All About Grace" is a novel about a young law student who finds herself in turmoil over a major decision, which turns her life upside down. This is a Christian novel based on major social issues.

Ms. Belfie also writes Amish and inspirational fiction. The three-book series called, "The Zook Sisters of Lancaster County" has been on Amazon's 100 best ebook list for several months.

June Belfie's latest book is a continuation of the heartfelt Amish stories of Lancaster County. It is called, "Waiting for Belinda," Book One of "The Zooks Revisited." Belinda lives in Ohio, but due to her wayward behavior, ends up living with a family member in Pennsylvania. She is torn between the Amish lifestyle and that of her English friends.

Five e-book novels are available now through Desert Breeze Publishers. "A Long Way to Go" is a popular Christian novel about the 1843 expedition across the Oregon Trail. In October of 2013 it will become available in paper also. In February of 2014, two other titles will be published in paper as well. "Moving On," and "A Special Blessing for Sara."

"The Landlord" and "The Inn Game" are light romantic reads, available in ebook form.

Raising five children (all productive members of society - so far!) she's now enjoying the fruits of her labor - in the form of eight grandkids!

"God's been so good to me. I want to share His impact on my life with others. Every book has a message - some obvious - some more subtle."


Well June has done it again penned what is one of the better Amish fiction books of this year. This is Book one of The Zook Family Revisited series.
If you have not read any of June's pervious books them you may want to start with this one.
You are sure to enjoy your trip to Lancaster Pennsylvania June writes in such a way that you think that you are right there in the pages of the book.
I recommend this book. I gave this book 4.5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.