Becoming Bea By Leslie Gould

Can Bea and Ben Turn Rivalry Into Romance? Beatrice Zook knows God wants her to learn patience toward others. When assisting a family overwhelmed by triplets proves surprisingly successful, her confidence in dealing with others, both young and old, grows. One person she'll never be able to find peace with though is Ben Rupp. They've known each other forever, and Ben understands precisely how to antagonize her. What neither she nor Ben will admit is that beneath all their bickering, attraction awaits. When friends decide to try and bring the couple together, will the pair be able to find true love? Or will they damage their relationship beyond repair?

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Bea-Courtships-Lancaster-County/dp/0764210343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413691357&sr=8-1&keywords=Becoming+Bea

Leslie Gould is the bestselling author of The Courtships of Lancaster County series and The Amish Midwife and The Amish Nanny, coauthored with Mindy Starns Clark. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Portland State University and has taught fiction writing at Multnomah University as an adjunct professor. She resides with her husband and four children in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at www.lesliegould.com.

Book four in The Courtship of Lancaster County series was just as good as the first three books.

I really enjoyed the whole series, but Ben and Beas story was one you don't  want to miss.

I love a great romance and this one is one you are sure to miss after you have finished the book.

I gave this book 5 stars and I recommend it. I could not put it down.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

An Amish Family Christmas By Marta Perry And Patricia Davids

Celebrate the holidays in Amish Country
Heart of Christmas by Marta Perry

Amish teacher Susannah Miller suddenly has two new students: the children of her former love. Widowed father Toby Unger broke Susannah's heart ten years ago, but now the handsome Amish man desperately needs help with his troubled little ones. Can the joy of the season reunite two lonely hearts in time for Christmas?

A Plain Holiday by Patricia Davids

Outspoken nanny Sally Yoder left her Amish community for her rumspringa. Though her heart is back home, the Amish man she loves, Ben Lapp, will never love a bold woman like her. But when a snowstorm strands her, her young charges and Ben on a remote farm at Christmastime, they both might discover that love is the true holiday spirit.

Amish teacher Susannah Miller suddenly has two new students: the children of her former love. Widowed father Toby Unger broke Susannah's heart ten years ago, but now the handsome Amish man desperately needs help with his troubled little ones. Can the joy of the season reunite two lonely hearts in time for Christmas?

Outspoken nanny Sally Yoder left her Amish community for her rumspringa. Though her heart is back home, the Amish man she loves, Ben Lapp, will never love a bold woman like her. But when a snowstorm strands her, her young charges and Ben on a remote farm at Christmastime, they both might discover  that love is the true holiday spirit.

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Family-Christmas-Christmas%5C-Inspired/dp/0373879202/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414261465&sr=1-1&keywords=An+Amish+Family+Christmas

Marta Perry realized she wanted to be a writer at age eight, when she read her first Nancy Drew novel. A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta to the books she writes now about the Amish. When she’s not writing, Marta is active in the life of her church and enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children and six beautiful grandchildren. Visit her online at www.martaperry.com.

 USA Today best-selling author Patricia Davids was born and raised in Kansas. After forty years as an NICU nurse, Pat switched careers to become an inspirational writer. She enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandchildren, traveling and playing with her dogs, who think fetch should be a twenty-four hour a day game. When not on the road or throwing a ball, Pat is happily dreaming up new stories.

I must start out by saying Marta Perry never disappoints me, she can't write a bad book. Her talents go above and beyond. This was the first I have read by author Patricia Davis and it was not to bad.

Want to celebrate the holidays in Amish Country then this is your book it will sweep you off your feet to  Amish heaven for the holidays.

I loved this book and it took my away that tells you it was a good read.

I gave this book 5 stars. I recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by one of the authors for my honest review.

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.
When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos, too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.
Join bestselling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Rose-Hill-Farm-Amish/dp/0800721934/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414259799&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Christmss+At+Rosehill

 

 

In no particular order, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife, mother, writer, lifelong student of the Bible, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a gardener and a cook...the latter two with sporadic results.

Suzanne has loved to write since she was a young teen. After college, she started to write for magazines and became a contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her family moved to Hong Kong for four years, just as the internet was developing, and she continued to write articles in a 44-story high-rise apartment, sending manuscripts 7,000 miles away with a click of a key.

After returning from Hong Kong, Suzanne decided to give her first novel a try. For four and a half months, she worked on an antediluvian computer in a cramped laundry room. She didn't even tell her husband what she was up to. When the novel was completed, she told her family at dinner one night that she had written a book. "That's why there's no food in this house!" said her slightly insensitive sons.

Undaunted...Suzanne found a small royalty publisher for that book and wrote three more (all earned multiple awards). With help from an agent, she went on to sign contracts with Revell Books for twenty plus books.

Writing, for Suzanne, is a way to express a love of God and His word. With every book or article, she hopes readers get a sense of what faith really looks like in the daily grind. She hopes they realize that life can be hard, but God is good, and never to confuse the two.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

What a vast knowledge of roses this author has. I enjoyed every page and learned a ton about roses along the way.

I loved the plot and the characters so much.

I have never read a book by Author Fisher that I haven't loved but this one was much different than her others you take so much away with this one. You are sure to still be thinking about it  long after you finish reading the last page.

I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.

The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible

The stars of the hit TV show Duck Dynasty are committed to upholding five core values both on and off the screen: faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom.

The Duck Commander^® Faith and Family Bible features new stories and testimonials by Phil, the Robertson family patriarch, and his son Al, a pastor with more than 22 years of experience. Together they offer fresh wisdom on biblical values and how everyday people can apply them to their lives.

Powered by relentless dedication to sharing the gospel and celebrating Christ’s kingdom, the Robertson family has become influential to contemporary evangelism and discipleship. The Duck Commander^® Faith and Family Bible unleashes the power of their practical insight into critical faith issues, founded on God’s Word.

Features include:

• Full text of the New King James Version Bible
• A personal welcome note from Phil and Al Robertson
• 125 articles on the top 24 most-searched topics on BibleGateway
• Life application and scripture references supplement each article
• 30 days of life-changing testimonials
• Topical index and reading plans

Pick up your copy here

Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible (Signature)

Phil and Al  Robertson are two great mentors to have and the commentaries or as they are called in this Bible "Life Changers" are fantastic.

This is a Bible I plan to keep and give as gifts, it is very easy to read and the hard cover will keep the pages in tact for years to come.

It has a great way to study as well at the end of each book there is what is called "On the Hunt" so it makes studying the Bible so much easier and  a lot more fun.

I gave this Bible 5 stars. I highly recommend it. It would make a great gift.

 I was given a copy of this Bible by the publisher for my honest review.

Farewell, Four Waters By Kate McCord

Day 14: It should have been the beginning . . .
All she needed were stamps and signatures. Marie and her translator stood in the government offices in Kabul, Afghanistan to complete the paperwork for her new literacy project. The women in her home town, the northern village of Shehktan, would learn to read.
But a spattering of gun shots exploded and an aid worker crumpled. Executed. On the streets of Kabul. Just blocks from the guesthouse. Sending shockwaves through the community.
The foreign personnel assessed their options and some, including Marie's closest friend, Carolyn, chose to leave the country. Marie and others faced the cost and elected to press forward. But the execution of the lone aid worker was just the beginning.
When she returned home to her Afghan friends in Shehktan to begin classes, she felt eyes watching her, piercing through her scarf as she walked the streets lined in mud brick walls.
And in the end . . .
It took only 14 days for her project, her Afghan home, her community-all of it-to evaporate in an eruption of dust, grief, and loss. Betrayed by someone she trusted. Caught in a feud she knew nothing about, and having loved people on both sides, Marie struggled for the answer: How could God be present here, working here, in the soul of Afghanistan?

KATE MCCORD lived and worked in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2010. During her years in country, she worked as a humanitarian aid worker, delivering projects to benefit the people of Afghanistan. She also learned the local language and developed deep and lasting friendships with local Afghans. After a evacuating from her home in Afghanistan, Ms. McCord transitioned into a mentoring, training, consulting and coaching role to other workers serving in the region.Prior to moving to Afghanistan, Ms. McCord worked in the international corporate community as a business process and strategy consultant.Currently, Ms. McCord serves the Christ through writing, speaking, mentoring and conducting workshops and seminars. She is the author of In the Land of Blue Burqas published by Moody Publishers in 2011.

A very emotional read.

This is the type of book you have to know how it ends so you just keep on reading until the end.

You will take away a much needed lesson from the book.

I gave this book 4 stars and I hope you grab a copy.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

The Christmas Cat By Melody Carlson

After years abroad, Garrison Brown returns home to Vancouver to build a new life. When his beloved grandmother passes away a few weeks before Christmas, Garrison goes to her house to sort out her belongings, including six cats who need new homes. While Garrison hopes to dispense with the task quickly, his grandmother's instructions don't allow for speed. She has left Garrison with some challenging requirements for the future homes of her furry friends--plus a sizeable monetary gift for the new owners. Garrison's job is to match the cats with the right owners without disclosing the surprise gift. Along the way, he may just meet someone who can make him stay.
Humorous and heartwarming, this latest Christmas story from bestselling author Melody Carlson is the perfect gift for pet lovers and anyone in whose heart Christmas holds a special place.

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/The-Christmas-Cat-Melody-Carlson/dp/0800719662/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414031322&sr=8-1&keywords=the+christmas+cat+melody+Carlson

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Dating Games series, the Life at Kingston High series, Double Take, A Simple Song, and My Amish Boyfriend. She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy this book. I loved the whole story, I could not put the book down.

As always Melody does not disappoint. This book will put you in the giving mood and get you ready for Christmas.

I  loved Garrison and Cara, the characters are very well rounded and loveable.

I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

At Bluebonnet Lake By Amanda Cabot

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood's world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow's End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother's request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort's handyman. But there's more to Greg than meets the eye--billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what's next for his life.
Kate isn't looking for romance, but she can't deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate's long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/At-Bluebonnet-Lake-Novel-Crossroads/dp/0800734343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413689654&sr=8-1&keywords=At+Bluebonnet+Lake

 

With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled "All About Thermometers," were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she's sold more than twenty five novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she's not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and - of course - reading.

 

Get ready to take a vacation like never before to a resort like none other in this latest masterpiece by Amanda Cabot.

I fell in love with the characters Kate, Greg, Grandma Sally and Roy. They felt like part of my family and I connected with Carmen on a foodie level.

I wanted to be at Bluebonnet so bad, reading this book was the much needed vacation that I needed. I hated to see the book end. I did however LOVE the ending.

I gave this book 5 stars two times and Highly recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

The Promise By Beth Wiseman

Mallory’s search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal—and danger.

Mallory Hammond is determined that no one will stand in the way of her goal—to save a life. She had that chance years ago, and she failed to take it, leaving her adrift and in search of the real meaning of her life. Finally, she meets a man online from a volatile corner of the world who offers her the chance to find that purpose. But she will have to leave everyone she loves behind in order to take it.

Tate Webber has loved Mallory for many years. He understands that Mallory will never be happy with him until her deepest heart’s desire is satisfied. When Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfi ll her dreams, Tate begs her not to go but tries to give her the space she needs. Mallory embarks on her dangerous journey only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. And Mallory can only pray that she will make it out alive.

Inspired by actual events, The Promise is a riveting love story that asks the question: how far will we go for love?

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Promise-Beth-Wiseman/dp/1401685951/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413687566&sr=1-1&keywords=the+promise+beth+wiseman

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published twelve novels and nine novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary--Need You Now--released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary--The House that Love Built--which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed.

In a daring new novel, Beth jumps way outside the box. The Promise will take readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by actual events, Beth believes this is the book she's been working toward for a long time.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs, two cats, and two potbellied pigs. When she's not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers or visit bethwiseman.com to learn more about Beth and her books.

Looking for a book to hold you attention? This is your book, Don't miss it!

What a heartache to read about. To read this book is to feel real heartache and pain.

Wiseman can pen a powerful story that touches many lives.

This book is sure to touch you and you will still be thinking about it long after you read the last page.

I gave this book 4 stars, and I recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

Quilted by Christmas By Jodie Bailey

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches. When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Quilted-Christmas-Quilts-Jodie-Bailey/dp/1426773617/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413685459&sr=1-1&keywords=quilted+by+christmas+by+jodie+bailey

Jodie Bailey writes novels about freedom and the heroes who fight for it. Her novels include Freefall and Crossfire, from Love Inspired Suspense, as well as Quilted by Christmas, from Abingdon Press. Her devotions have appeared in Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home and Sweet Freedom with a Slice of Peach Cobbler. She is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee, and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs.

I really enjoyed this latest Quilts of Love series book.

The Christmas homey feel was wonderful. The warm feeling what I like to say pulls at your heartstrings is all over this book.

I really loved that she is a teacher in North Carolina.  Being that's where I am living also.

You are going to love this book the only thing I did not like was that the story ended to soon for me.

I gave this book 5 stars. I recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn media for my honest review. Thanks Jeane!

The Covered Deep By Brandy Vallance

SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH SEARCHING FOR

Bianca Marshal is looking for a man who can quote both Jesus and Shakespeare. Not surprisingly, that man is hard to find in the small Appalachian town where she lives. Her mother insists that Bianca lower her standards. One the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, even Bianca wonders if her mother is right.

Still set on experiencing love, or at least a little adventure, Bianca wins an essay contest that propels her into a whirlwind search for the perfect hero. Via the opulence of London and the mysteries of Palestine, Bianca's true love will be revealed—but not without a price that might be too heavy to pay.

Pick up your copy here

The Covered Deep

Brandy Vallance fell in love with the Victorian time period at a young age, loving the customs, manners, and especially the intricate rules of love. Since time travel is theoretically impossible, she lives in the nineteenth century vicariously through her novels. Unaccountable amounts of black tea have fueled this ambition. Brandy's love of tea can only be paralleled by her love of Masterpiece Theater Classics, deep conversations, and a good book. Brandy is the 2013 Operation First Novel winner and the 2012 winner of the ACFW Genesis Contest for historical romance. You can connect with Brandy via her website www.brandyvallance.com, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, YouTube, or Twitter @BrandyVallance.

The plot was so different from other romance books. I really enjoyed it.

We all have dreams right? You are going to love the characters in this story so much!

This is Brandy's debut novel but you would never know it , it reads like a seasoned author. Brandy has mega talent. This book is NOT to be missed.

I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

A Christmas Gift By Kathi Macias

Chiapas, Mexico, had proven to be the distraction and escape Julie needed. As a teacher, she had longed to travel and instruct abroad. Now, she was teaching and falling in love with her students. But what she didn't expect happened in the short days leading up to Christmas.  She didn’t know that her freedom would depend on Ramon, the local pastor. She didn’t anticipate the emotions this man of God would stir deep in her spirit. This Christmas Eve service would be unlike any other she had ever experienced. Would this simple man and his faith be enough to cause her to stay when she had every reason to leave?

Pick up your copy

http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Gift-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596694165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413383278&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Christmas+Gift+by+Kathi+Macias

Multiple award-winning author Kathi Macias’s more than 40 books include the “Quilt” series, the award-winning “Freedom” series, and the “Extreme Devotion” novels for New Hope Publishers. Her devotionals reach hundreds of thousands—through the Christian Civic League, Black Christian News, Latino Christian News, Christians in Recovery, and crosswalk.com. The Excellence in Media Angel Award, San Diego Christian Writers Guild fiction awards, Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (Red Ink), Carol Award finalist (Red Ink), 2011 Author of the Year for BooksandAuthors.net, and an international writing contest grand prize are some of her credits. A popular speaker for women’s retreats, conferences, churches, and TV and radio programs, Kathi also loves outreach to prison and homeless ministries, and praying for and aiding the persecuted church globally. A mother and grandmother, Kathi lives with husband, Al, in California.

What a fantastic heartfelt, moving, inspirational read. Kathi never disappoints. She is a very talented author with a huge voice.

This is a story that many will connect with. The characters are very real and the story is one you don't want to miss.

Kathi writes about tough subjects in such away you will want to get out and change the world.

I gave book 5 stars two times and I HIGHLY recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review. 

The Forgiven By Marta Perry

When three women, all cousins, are given the task of sorting through the treasures of several generations of their Amish family, they each discover a story from the past that provides insights and inspiration for their own lives.
Central Pennsylvania, current day. Rebecca Fisher gladly accepted her husband Paul’s dreams as her own, but now that he has passed away, she’s struggling to raise two children and keep her home. Renting her stable to carpenter Matthew Byler offers a partial solution—even though Matthew has a troubled history, having sometimes failed to embrace Amish beliefs. As Matthew seeks to prove himself, Rebecca realizes how dependent she has become on others. Where can she find the courage to grow and change?

Lancaster County, 1941. As war threatens, Anna Esch pours her experiences into her diary. Her world seems to crumble as neighbors turn against the Amish and her love, Jacob, is sent to a camp far away for refusing to fight. She can’t know, as she grows from a girl into a woman during a time of trouble and grief, that one day another Amish woman will gain strength from the words she writes and will learn that she, too, can become a keeper of the promise.

 

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Forgiven-Keepers-Promise-Book-One/dp/0425271412/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413170905&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Forgiven

A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels including the Pleasant Valley series and the Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley series. She lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.

This is a fantastic start to the new series Keepers of the Promise.

I read all night until I finished the very last page. I hated to see this book end.

Perry has such a way with words and she know her stuff when it comes to Amish fiction, you would think that she was Amish herself.

You are sure to love this very inspirational read. You are going to love the characters as well.

You have to check out the three recipes at the end of this book.

I can't wait until book 2 in this series The Rescued is released.

I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review.

A Love Undone By Cindy Woodsmall

A husband and son abandoned to forge a path alone.
A young woman who sacrificed her dreams.
How will the God of grace and hope help them find their way?
At nineteen years old, Old Order Amish Jolene Keim was on the brink of happily-ever-after when everything changed, stealing the future she expected and burdening her with an unbearable decision. For the next ten years, Jolene throws herself into family life—and then she meets Andy Fisher. The horse trainer and father to a sweet nine year-old challenges her and holds up a mirror to issues Jolene has been unwilling to face.

Andy is cautious about his deepening friendship with Jolene, but he believes she knows the truth about him – that he is a grass widower. As a man whose wife has abandoned him six years past, he is unable to divorce or remarry according to the Amish ways. Andy has wrestled with God concerning his reality, and he had found peace with the solitary future facing him…until he met Jolene.

As Andy and Jolene find themselves confronted by difficult choices, will they trust in God's guidance—or will the allure of their deepening friendship only lead to further temptation?

 

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030773000X/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d2_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0HT59Z6DW3FQEMNM7NZS&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

 

 

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal,and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the one of the top three most popular authors of Amish fiction.

She's a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

She's won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer's Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings' Best Books of the Year. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn't realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn't allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy's house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them--afraid that if they didn't, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann's because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults' disapproval and the obstacles in each other's lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy's family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities--from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

If you'd like more information or to contact her, you can go to her website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall 

 

 

Get ready to get your box of tissues out, this book will make you cry but you will not be able to put it down. I was very sad for Jolene and Andy and Ray. I have to say this was one of Cindy's best books, I hated to see it end. This book really tugged at my heartstrings. I think you Amish fiction fans are going to LOVE this one.

I gave this book 5 stars and I highly recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book by Wynn Wynn media for my honest review.

Lulu's Cafe By T.I. Lowe

“Some scars are too deep to ever heal,” Leah Gabriella Allen whispered in hushed anguish. The orphaned young woman knows all too well about scars…a thick burn spanning her left palm…a deep rigid scar adorning her right hip…a scar etched across her bottom lip…There were countless more, exposed as well as hidden deep within. After years of foster and group home instability, Gabriella naively falls in the thorny arms of the abusive Brent Sadler. The constant bruise of cruelty is ever present in their ten years of marriage – beatings that riddle her body and then being locked away in a closet when Brent grows weary of looking at the damage. One last momentous beating ends with two deaths and changes Gabriella’s life forever. She stumbles away within an inch of her own life and begins a journey to an unexpected southern home which is none other than Lulu’s Café, where she tries to mend her severed spirit. Lulu is the petite charismatic southern belle with a strong unshakable faith. She wisely takes on the challenge of helping the young woman heal her broken body as well as her shattered spirit. She enlists the support of the enchanting southern gentleman, Crowley J. Mason IV, whose ocean blue eyes seem to hypnotize Leah (as they know her) from the start. Leah is an unwanted stranger in Crowley’s quaint southern town of Rivertown, South Carolina. He holds her at arm’s length as he tries to decipher the mystery of her recent past. Before the young lawyer realizes it, he finds Leah tucked protectively in his arms. He wants nothing more than to help her heal…if she would just trust enough to let him in. Lulu’s Café interlaces human failures and sheds light on the paths that lead out of them.

 

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/Lulus-Cafe-Novel-T-I-Lowe/dp/1495974758/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412876157&sr=1-1&keywords=lulu%27s+café

T.I. Lowe is a southern belle that resides on a small farm hidden in the boonies near coastal South Carolina. Most days you can easily find T.I. in her kitchen, whipping up homemade treats for her babies and neighbors or glued to her computer keyboard. She enjoys drifting away in the fictitious world of the latest novel while bathing in the warm southern sunshine with a glass of iced tea in hand.

"I am running with patience the race set before me, looking unto Jesus, my author and finisher of my faith."

T.I. has just completed her second novel, Coming Home Again and is now typing away on her third, Goodbyes and Second Chances.
Information and Excerpts are available on her website: tilowe.com

 

I really enjoyed the first part of this book, but then it seems to drift off in another direction and very slowly it kinds of lost me.

I did however find that the first part let  me know that this author has the ability to write a good story if given the time and chance to rewrite it.

I  gave this book 3.5 stars. With a side note that this author could write a 5 star book.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

The Horse That Haunts My Heart By Deborah Smith Parker

Set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Deborah Smith Parker's coming of age memoir takes place in the 1950s during three transformative summers she spent on a horse ranch. As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, she longed for the life of a cowboy. At age 13 her parents allowed her to go west to live her dream where she met her first love—a horse nick-named Tank. She spent her summers riding, wrangling, and sleeping out under the stars while her extraordinary relationship with Tank developed, shaped by the poignancy, hilarity and drama that tested relationships undergo. Like the rugged mountains in which these events took place, this story has rapidly shifting light and shadow which Parker artfully leads the reader through with humor and well-wrought descriptions of vivid pictures of life on the ranch—daily chores, risky antics and real peril, coping with dirt and dangers on the trail, and learning the language of horses, her horse in particular.

 

Pick up your copy here

http://www.amazon.com/The-Horse-That-Haunts-Heart/dp/0981478786/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1412875104&sr=1-1

 

Deborah Smith Parker is a writer, poet, essayist, blogger and author of two books. Her first book, Humanus Astrologicus (2010), goes where no astrologer has gone before, and easily takes the reader along. Parker blends ancient knowledge with modern wit and rhyme. And unlike many astrology books, it has richness both for the person clueless about astrology as well as the seasoned astrologer. The Horse that Haunts My Heart (2014) is Parker’s recent release. Anyone who ever loved a horse – or wished they had—will be quickly captivated by this coming of age memoir that chronicles the extraordinary relationship Parker developed with her horse, shaped by the poignancy, hilarity and drama that tested relationships undergo –all set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Her other works have appeared in more than 25 different published outlets ranging from "Journal of the American Medical Association" to "The Mountain Astrologer" to "North County Times" to "Nuthouse" to "New Press Literary Quarterly." Parker grew up bi-lingual, fluent in both prose and poetry, learning from her father at an early age to write clever verse. Later she learned how to use writing to dig deep into the pain and revelations of life. However, whatever topic she writes on or form she writes in, Parker is genetically programmed to incorporate her well-honed wit. Parker is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she majored in English. She lives in North County San Diego with her husband, Jeff, a homeopath and their Cattle Dog, Eli.

 

 

Tank the horse was given to this young girl as a healing tool, to help her heal.

This is a well written story for young adults. You are sure to like the important message in this book.

I gave this book 4 stars.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.