Thursday, August 31, 2017

Bringing Maggie Home By Kim Vogel Sawyer



Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery,
and a Rift Spanning Three Generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.
 
When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?


Pick up your copy here...


 
 
KIM VOGEL SAWYER is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

 My Thoughts...

This was such a fantastic and memorable read. I loved Hazel and sweet Meghan. I was sad and hurt and I wanted to stop reading this book. But I had to know what was going to happen next. I am here to tell you, YOU will love this book. You will be on the edge of your seat trying to find out what's going to happen next.
Sawyer always writes the best stories and they are all very different. But this one left me feeling like God's always got my back.
It will all turn out alright in the end.
I will say this, Maggie and Hazels story is one you may never forget. And you will reread it over and over again.
I gave this book 5 star two times. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

5- Minute Bible 100 Stories and Songs By Steven Elkins




Curl up with your little one, and discover 100 of the greatest Bible stories.
From Moses’ encounter with the burning bush and Jonah’s trip to Nineveh to Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son and the last supper, 5 Minute Bible: 100 Stories and Songs will make an eternal difference by revealing God’s amazing love. With biblical truths and life-action applications, your child will take these biblical teachings to heart, and the adorable illustrations and song lyrics will help make these five minutes the best part of the day.
Set aside five minutes to discover the Bible with your child—and start today!

Pick up your copy here...

My Thoughts...

This was so cute! And so much fun to read to Leland. The stories are very short so little ones can sit for just a few minutes and the songs are short and very easy to learn.
I really loved the illustrations colorful and go with the stories so well.
The stories are ones that you want to share with your little ones and ones that are fun to learn about. They are all written in a  kid-friendly way. The Bible stories are simple and reveal the truth of God's word.
I gave this childrens book 5 stars and It would make a great gift for the little ones in your life.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

The Beloved Christmas Quilt By Wanda Brunstetter



One Quilt Binds Three Generations of Amish Women Enjoy the gift of a brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, along with stories by her daughter-in-law, Jean and granddaughter, Richelle.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:3
The scripture embroidered on the back of a beloved quilt brings hope to three generations of Pennsylvania Amish women at Christmastime.
 
Luella’s Promise
By Wanda E. Brunstetter
Luella Ebersol has been caregiver for a dying woman and her young son. When Dena Lapp gives Luella her favorite quilt, she makes Luella promise to pass it down to her daughter. But Luella isn’t sure she will ever marry if she can’t find someone with maturity and faith like Dena’s husband Atlee Zook.
 
Karen’s Gift
By Jean Brunstetter
Karen Allgyer and her husband moved to a slow-paced village to raise their children, but Karen longs for the closeness of family to help her through the challenges of managing three girls with one on the way. When life’s pressures rise, will Karen cave to her fears?
 
Roseanna’s Groom
By Richelle Lynn Brunstetter
When the unexpected happens on the day of her wedding, Roseanna Allgyer can’t help blaming herself, despite not understanding why. Then an old friend returns to town, and she battles feeling for him—afraid of being hurt again.

Pick up your copy here...



Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of almost 90 books with more than 10 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda's fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda's desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda's novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda's primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern "Englishers." Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com
 
My Thoughts...
 
 
I am a huge fan of Wanda's so I knew her novella would be fantastic. I have read Wanda's daughter-in-laws writing in past books and really enjoyed her writing as well. But Wanda's granddaughter has a novella in this three part book so I did not know what to expect. I must say all three novellas were fantastic. I love how they are all woven together and the families are part of all three. Three generations of ladies and one quilt. The scripture on the quilt could not be more perfect.
I loved how they all came together so perfectly.
I must say this is a 5 stars two times book. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
 

Monday, August 28, 2017

Always Close to Home By Jerry Eicher




Are Two Miracles Too Much to Ask For?
Twins Laura and Lydia Mast keep few secrets from each other, but even Laura doesn't sense the great ache Lydia has held in her heart since Laura started dating the charming John Yoder. When will it be Lydia's turn for love?

Despite having a willing suitor in Wendell Kaufman, who once unsuccessfully pursued her sister, Lydia's attention is fixed on Milton Beiler. Milton hasn't paid Lydia the least bit of attention, and worse still, he's on rumspringa and conflicted about permanently joining the church.

Meanwhile, Laura's world is turned upside down when a tragic accident threatens her dreams of becoming John's frau. Despite the obstacles in her path, Laura remains steadfast in her faith.

Will Lydia's love for Milton win out over his love for the world, and is Laura strong enough to face an uncertain future with John? Only the Lord has the answers the Mast sisters so desperately search for.


Pick up your copy here...




As a boy, Jerry Eicher spent eight years in Honduras where his grandfather helped found an Amish community outreach. As an adult, Jerry taught for two terms in parochial Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. He has been involved in church renewal for 14 years and has preached in churches and conducted weekend meetings of in-depth Bible teaching. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

My Thoughts...
 
 Oh Yes book three in The St. Lawrence County Amish was everything I was hoping it would be and more.
I loved the answered prayers and the miracles that they twins and their daddy got answered.
I dove into the book and never came up for air until the very end.
Eicher writes Amish so well being that he was Amish at one time. He knows what he's writing about.
I loved this ending to this series, it can be read as a stand alone but I think you will be very happy reading this whole series.
I gave this book and the whole series 5 stars two times! I HIGHLY recommend it.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

God's Crime Scene For Kids By Warner Wallace




In this companion to Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, Jason uncovers a mystery in his grandmother’s attic. He and his friends, Hannah, Daniel and Jasmine, enlist the help of Detective Jeffries at the Jr. Detective’s Academy. Along the way, they develop the skills needed to investigate the mystery and the evidence of God’s existence. The cadets learn logical-thinking skills as they examine the contents of a mysterious box and the vast universe.

In God’s Crime Scene for Kids, real-life detective J. Warner Wallace shows kids ages 8 to 12 what skills are needed to solve Jason’s mystery, and at the same time looks at evidence in the universe that demonstrates God is the creator. Ultimately, kids will learn how to make their own case for God’s existence.

Pick up your copy...
https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Crime-Scene-Kids-Investigate/dp/1434710327/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8




Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Homicide Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Biola University, Christian Case Maker and author. J. Warner was a conscientious and vocal atheist through his undergraduate and graduate work in Design and Architecture (CSULB and UCLA); he always considered himself to be an "evidentialist". His experience in law enforcement only served to strengthen his conviction that truth is tied directly to evidence. But at the age of thirty-five, J. Warner took a serious and expansive look at the evidence for the Christian Worldview and determined that Christianity was demonstrably true. After becoming a Christ follower in 1996, Jim continued to take an evidential approach to truth as he examined the Christian worldview. He eventually earned a Master's Degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

J. Warner served as a Youth Pastor for several years, then planted a church in 2006. Along the way, he created and built the Cold-Case Christianity website, blog and podcast as a place to post and talk about what he discovered related to the evidence supporting Christianity. Jim has appeared on television and radio, explaining the role that evidence plays in the Christian definition of "faith" and defending the historicity of Jesus, the reliability of the Bible and the truth of the Christian worldview. Jim also speaks at churches, retreats and camps as he seeks to help people become confident Christian case makers.

J. Warner's professional investigative work has received national recognition; his cases have been featured repeatedly on NBC's Dateline, and he's been awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor "Sustained Superiority" Award. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, J. Warner provides his readers with the tools they will need to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.

My Thoughts...


This is a fun book packed with illustrations to draw 10 and 11 year olds in. Lots of fun reading for young ones.
Learning about God is sure to be a blast in this mystery.
I gave this book 4 stars and I hope you will invest in your kids reading is so much fun and learning while reading is the best.
 The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Friday, August 25, 2017

The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide





Churches have always sought to be a safe haven for children and families, but many today are dealing with the tragic reality of child sexual abuse. For the first time in history, this issue is finally being acknowledged by churches and faith communities. But the task of developing a policy to keep children safe can seem too overwhelming it feels like an impossible task to plan for every contingency. This results in churches neglecting to put working safety plans in place, leaving themselves, and the children they care for, vulnerable. This handbook, authored and edited by a multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts, is designed to help churches and faith communities formulate policies and procedures to protect children and deal with possible child abuse in their ministries, school, and church. By walking through a wide range of scenarios, this book will assist churches and ministries to assess their current child abuse policies and guide them through each step they should take to address the safety of children under their care. Covering vitally important topics including the warning signs of abuse, how to respond to abuse allegations and care for victims, and the legal implications and requirements for churches and Christian ministries, working through this book will guide churches and Christian ministries in creating and implementing policies to protect children in a Christian environment from child abuse. This handbook is an invaluable resource for Christians who are seeking to educate themselves and others about child abuse and how they can best protect the little ones under their care.  

Pick up your copy here...

Basyle (Boz) Tchividjian is a former child-abuse prosecutor who currently teaches Child Abuse and the Law and several other courses at Liberty University School of Law. Professor Tchividjian is also the founder and executive director of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). The third eldest grandchild of Reverend Billy Graham, he wrote the book Invitation: Billy Graham and the Lives God Touched. Shira M. Berkovits is founder and CEO of Sacred Spaces, a cross-denominational initiative to create systemic solutions to abuse in communal institutions. In this capacity she has worked with faith communities around the world to develop policies and training to prevent and respond to institutional abuse. She is a psychologist and attorney, and has completed postdoctoral fellowships in child trauma and rehabilitative alternatives to incarceration. Prior to founding Sacred Spaces, Dr. Berkovits worked on issues of youth advocacy, child protection, and criminal justice reform.

My Thoughts...
 
Just thinking about this book having to be wrote is very sad to me. One, children are a gift from God. Two, churches are a place of safety. This is a very sad book to read but, I am very thankful for the authors taking the time to write it and help churches and ministries. It is much needed and to have it on hand is a blessing.
It was very well written and easy to understand as well.
I hope that leaders working with children get copies of this book and read it and share it  as well.
I gave this book 4 stars.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

The Day The Angels Fell By Shawn Smucker




It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. As he recalls the tumultuous events that launched a surprising journey, Samuel can still hardly believe it all happened.

After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to turn back time. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Samuel begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Samuel to grapple with an unwelcome question: could it be possible that death is a gift?

Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell is a story that explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid. With this powerful debut, Shawn Smucker has carved out a spot for himself in the tradition of authors Madeleine L'Engle and Lois Lowry.

Pick up your copy here...




I think everyone’s looking for a place in the world – not a physical location as much as an emotional one. Just a tiny bit of space to set up shop, to exist.

Life hinted at where that space would be for me when I was a small boy and books picked me up and carried me away. If you came looking for me in the mid-80s you would have found me sitting on a large porch attached to a ramshackle farmhouse, reading about Narnia or the Shire, brushing away the flies, constantly saying, “Okay, mom, just one more chapter.”

But then, normal life got in the way. I wandered. Geographically, I went to a hot city in Florida, an old village in England, and then back to Virginia. Emotionally, I traveled even further. Finally, after ten years of searching, I found stories again. Or maybe they found me.

Now I live in that place I was always trying to find. I wake up beside my beautiful wife, Maile. I make breakfast for my six children. I spend the rest of the day capturing stories.

Thanks for visiting my tiny bit of space. I’d love to hear about yours.

My Thoughts...
 
This was a different book, while it took me a while to get into it, once I finally did, it was an okay read, very different read.
It's fiction that much I do know, other than that I am not sure. I am not into fortune-tellers and such so this was a very different read for me.
I have never read this author before, I will try his books again in the future.
I gave this book 3.5 stars. True a new author out maybe.
 The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

A Mother for Leah By Rachel Miller





Will Leah Fisher find love because of a buggy accident? 
Could love soften her heart so that she is able to see her answered prayers in Naomi Yoder or will she drive a wedge between her father and the only woman he has shown interest in since Elisabeth Fisher's death?

Leah Fisher lost her mother ten years ago. She is rapidly approaching womanhood and the lack is becoming more difficult every day. 
Will she be able to recognize love when it's right in front of her? 
Could love be the key to Leah opening her heart, making room for the woman her father intends to marry... or will she stubbornly cling to the memory of her own mother?
Will Leah be able to let go of her own ideas and realize that God truly does know best for her or will she allow love to slip through her fingers, destroying Samuel Fisher and Naomi Yoder's happiness at the same time?

Pick up your copy here...




Rachel L Miller writes sweet Amish romance with a focus on faith, family and friendship.

She feels very strongly that God has led her to live a simpler lifestyle – thus her deep kinship with the plain people. She enjoys spending time with her family and doing fun, simple things like swimming, making sun tea, sitting outside watching the sunrise or listening to rain fall on the tin roof.

Rachel enjoys writing Amish fiction and hopes that the purity of her stories will allow God's message to shine through more clearly. She also writes Contemporary Inspirational Romance - and with all of her stories she focuses on presenting romance the way God intended it to be.

Readers can connect with Rachel on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and her website: rlmauthor.com

My Thoughts...

This was my first book by Miller and I have to say, it was a true Amish romance and one that I would recommend to Amish fiction fans.
Miller does a good job of keeping the story clean and getting the points across without being nasty.  Miller uses this story as a good base for faith and love and god is thru out the pages with out being overly preachy.
It was slow  but it picked up and being an avid Amish fiction reader the occasional Amish word (Dutch) did not mess me up. There is a glossary in the front of the book for those new to Amish books  to help them with the words.
I gave this book 4 stars and I can't wait for the next book in the Windy Gap Wishes series.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the Author for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

The Promise of a Letter By Kathleen Fuller




A letter brings him back to his Amish family. It will take someone truly extraordinary to make him stay.
Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.
Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional—strange, even—Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.
But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good?


Pick up your copy here...



Kathleen Fuller, Best-selling author of Amish fiction. Also a wife, mother, crafter, coffee addict, football fan, and chocolate aficionado.

My Thoughts...

This is not a book that you will be able to put down. I had to find out if the brothers were going to come together and forgive each other and move on.
One brother I did not care much for, I will let you figure out which one when you read it. Because I know that you are going to want to read to find out what is going on with these two brothers.
This is the first book that I have read by Fuller in about 6 or 7 years. I needed a break from all the same ole same ole Amish fiction books.
Another blogger told me that she had changed her writing style to just out some of her later books and this one was sent to me by the publisher so I sat down to give it a try and WOW, it was much different than those first books I had read. I really did enjoy this one.
I am awaiting book three in this series. This can be read as a stand alone I did not read book one and I was not last at all.
I gave this book 4 stars, I recommend it.
The Mary Readereceived this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.