Words from the Heart By Kathleen Fuller

Her fingertips brushed against something else in the box of doilies. She lifted a bundle of letters, neatly tied with a thin red ribbon . . .
Ivy Yoder hasn’t heard from John King in over a year. She knows it’s time to let go of the idea that they will one day marry, but she’s humiliated to be one of the oldest single women in her Amish community of Birch Creek. When quirky Cevilla Schlabach asks her to help clean out an attic, Ivy is grateful for the distraction.
Noah Schlabach isn’t from Birch Creek, or even Ohio. His job as an auctioneer takes him around the country and away from a typical Amish life, but he still remains devoted to his family. So when his aging aunt asks him to help clean out her attic, he agrees. Plus, who knows what curious items he might find up there?
 As Noah and Ivy work side by side, they come across a different kind of treasure: a packet of letters written during the Korean War. Soon they are swept up in the story of two young people falling in love—even as they remain determined not to fall in love themselves.
Words from the Heart is a moving story of lost love letters, fragile fears, and the beauty of taking another step forward.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Words-Heart-Amish-Letters-Novel/dp/0718082567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517437448&sr=8-1&keywords=words+from+the+heart+kathleen+fuller

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

My Thoughts...

This was my favorite of the three Amish Letters series books.
I had taken a break to sit down and rest for a few minutes and I picked this up and was going to read a chapter or two and before I know it I had read the very last page.
It's just that good. I loved Ivy and Noah and of course my favorite character was Noah's Aunt Cervilla she is just a hoot and so blunt and I could not wait to for her to step on the scene.
This series is not to be missed. They can all be read as stand alones but I say read the whole series.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend this book and series,
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Putting It Together Again By Tom Holladay

Life crises can throw you into a tail-spin—a lost job, a failed relationship, a struggling business, a financial mess. Where do you start? How do you pull it together? How do you begin again?
Tom Holladay experienced a catastrophe first-hand when a sudden flood in California destroyed his home, his church, and the homes of many church members. Tom and his congregation had to rebuild, and they used the principles in the book of Nehemiah to get back on their feet.
Now a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church, Tom will help you discover seven principles for putting it together again that will give you the direction you need to get rolling on that fresh start. Holladay will walk you through seeing every problem as an opportunity, facing the obstacles head on and taking your first step, knowing how to expect and reject opposition, build on your success, and dedicating yourself to the One who rebuilds our souls.
The task of starting again can seem impossible. And sometimes you just need to rebuild your confidence and regain a sense of purpose. If you’re trying to find the emotional energy, but you just don’t have it in you, let Holladay encourage you. He understands how difficult and rewarding the business of rebuilding is. This book is your encouraging how-to guide to starting again and stepping into a better future.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Putting-Together-Again-Fallen-Apart/dp/0310350395/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516989245&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Putting+it+together+again+when+it%27s+all+fallen+a+part

Tom Holladay is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. In addition to his pastoral leadership and weekend teaching ministries, he assists Rick Warren in teaching Purpose Driven Church conferences all over the world. With Kay Warren, he is the coauthor of Foundations: 11 Core Truths to Build Your Life On. Tom and his wife Chaundel, have three children.

My Thoughts...

This was a good informative read.  Read it slowly. Act on the practical steps suggested at the end of each of the  chapters. Read it with an open mind.
There is plenty of scripture through out the book so have your Bible handy while reading it. 
This might be a book that will change your life in a positive way.
I gave this book 4 stars. Take a stab at it and see what you think about it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

The Celebration By Wanda Brunstetter Win it before you can buy it!

Return to Holmes County, Ohio, for Amish style cooking class.

Lyle and Heidi Troyer have taken in a brother and sister, who were orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident. Hoping to help the children adapt and make friends, Heidi decides to hold a series of cooking classes for kids. But kids are always accompanied by an adult—and that is where the trouble arises.

Miranda Cooper is living the life of a single mom to her two kids while separated from her husband, but Trent is trying to worm his way back into her heart.

Denise McGuire’s life as a wife, mom, and real estate broker is full and spilling over.

Darren Keller, single dad and firefighter, and Ellen Blackburn, single mom and nurse, find a few things in common.

Will hearts be healed over plates of Amish food?

This is the third book in The Amish Cooking Class series.
Book #1:  The Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers
Book #2:  The Amish Cooking Class - The Blessing

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Cooking-Class-Wanda-Brunstetter/dp/1624167462/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1516424680&sr=8-1

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...

This whole series was good and I enjoyed all three books. But I must say I think that The Celebration was my favorite of the three.
I found the love and the heart of the kitchen and the kids so much fun.
I did have an issue with the smart acting kids and I know kids are disrespectful at times. One particular kid had me screaming.
I loved whole series  and how the whole story played out.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend the whole series . While this book can be a stand alone. If it were me I would read the whole series. You are sure to enjoy it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

To be entered in the GIVEAWAY follow this blog, leave a comment below and to get an extra entry Post the cover on your Facebook wall or Instagram  for the weekend and tag me.

Holes in the Soul By Devon Blanton

There aren’t many publications on the market today that can explain the causes of strongholds in the way that Holes in the Soul does. It’s powerful and revealing. Imprints can be the root of many thought processes that we inadvertently believe to be normal. What if we are wrong and our belief systems are flawed? How can we know if what we believe is real truth? These and many more questions are answered within these pages. You will be amazed once you discover what makes you think the way you do. It can change your life and perhaps free you from bondages you never knew you had. Dr. Devon Blanton carefully dissects the causes of negative thinking processes and reveals their effects in a way that anyone can understand. This is a powerful and compelling study!

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Soul-Dr-Devon-Blanton/dp/1979565104/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516827641&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=holes+in+your+soul+By+Devon

Dr. Devon Blanton is a pastor conducting a full time ministry along with a very busy Christian Counseling practice. He holds an earned Doctorate in Religious Education, specializing in Counseling. He is certified in Family and Marriage, Grief and Drug Abuse and Health and Nutrition. He is also a Certified Health Coach. His post-doctoral pursuits include an earned diploma in Psychiatric Studies. He also completed brief studies in Cardiology and Resuscitation from Perelman School of Medicine, Penn State University. He further expanded His studies in nutrition from Texas A&M, Vanderbilt University and Stanford University. This all coincides with his four pillar philosophy on Counseling. These focus on the Physical, Spiritual, Emotional and Financial parts of who we are. He is also the Founder of Cross Anchors Solutions, a high level training program out of Durham, NC providing training in Leadership Development, Biblical Counseling I, II, Advanced Biblical Counseling and Health and Nutrition.

My Thoughts...

We all have holes in our soul. Do you just put a band aid over it? Would you like to learn how to how those holes?
Pastor Devon has written a book to help you heal those holes.  This is a self help book that is much needed. You will take away so much from this book.
I could see a wonderful Bible study taken place with this book and a whole lot of self discovery and  healing happening.
This is a 4 star book that you should check out.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

The Mayflower Bride By Kimberley Woodhouse

Can a religious separatist and an opportunistic spy make it in the New World?
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Mary Elizabeth Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed—and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is no better as food is scarce and the people are weak. Will Mary Elizabeth survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series begins with The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

More to come in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)?
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Mayflower-Bride-Daughters-book/dp/1683224191/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516658286&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mayflower+bride

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than a dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she's shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel's Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in Colorado with her husband of twenty-five years and their two amazing kids. kimberleywoodhouse.com
Find Kim on twitter and facebook:
twitter.com/kimwoodhouse
author fan page Kimberley Woodhouse

My Thoughts...

I was a little disappointed with this book after being so excited about it.
In my opinion this was not researched very well which made it hard to get into. I wish the time period had been better researched I should say.
Aside from that it would have been a good story had it been researched a little better. The Characters were good and the romance sweet. 
I gave this book 3 stars but I cant wait to read the next book in this series  The Daughters of the Mayflower. Each book in this series has a different author.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Fierce Faith Alli Worthington

Sometimes Jesus’s call to “fear not” seems like the hardest instruction to follow.
Some days you faultlessly juggle everything that is your life—kids, husband, house, job, church, friendships, school, pets, appointments, and on and on. Other days the very thought of which ball you’re going to drop puts your anxiety level through the roof. You’re afraid you’re forgetting something. And you are: God’s advice to fear not.
Alli Worthington knows all about the ways a woman can be hard on herself. She shares her own fear struggles with humor and honesty—while offering real strategies for coping with life’s big worries as well as those little everyday worries.
Alli uses biblical wisdom and practical insight to help you:

• Identify fear-based thinking.
• Overcome the big and little worries in life.
• Learn a simple trick to stop the anxiety spiral.
• Live a more confident, less worried life.

Grab a cup of coffee and sit down for some encouragement from a friend. Alli’s no-nonsense, wise advice will lighten your heart and help you cut through the daily clutter of fear and worry to reconnect with your own fierce faith.

Preorder your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Faith-Fighting-Wrestling-Overcoming/dp/0310342252/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515621433&sr=1-1&keywords=fierce+faith+alli+Worthington

Alli Worthington is the author of Fierce Faith and Breaking Busy, she's a speaker and business coach. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live.

Alli is a sought after coach and consultant who has helped individuals, small business owners and Fortune 500 companies be more successful.

Alli's no-nonsense, guilt-free take on motherhood, parenting and balance has lead to appearances on The Today Show and Good Morning America.

She lives outside Nashville with her husband, Mark, their five sons, and the only golden retriever who refuses to retrieve.

Alli spends way too much time on Instagram at @AlliWorthington and you can find out all about her at AlliWorthington.com

My Thoughts...

One of the hardest things is to Fear Not, we all fight with fear at sometime or another. I have had people tell me they have so much faith they never deal with fear, I say wrong, if your child has been given a bad diagnosis then you will experience FEAR. If you are a single mother and you are told your job is cutting back and they don't need you anymore, you will experience FEAR.
Well Fierce Faith is a book that we ALL need to read.  We need to learn the lessons in this book and try to adhere to them. This book is for the worrier, the gals that wrestle with anxiety, the gals they fight fear regularly.  
I found a lot of wisdom in this book and it's very well said.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend this to all the ladies.
The Mary Reader received this book from Wynn Wynn Media for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Isaiah's Daughter By Mesu Andrews

In this epic Biblical narrative, ideal for fans of The Bible miniseries, a young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah's household rises to capture the heart of the future king.

Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name--Zibah, delight of the Lord--thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet's home, devastated after watching her family destroyed and living as a captive. But as the years pass, Zibah's lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah's favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Isaiahs-Daughter-Novel-Prophets-Kings/dp/0735290253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515901168&sr=8-1&keywords=isaiah%27s+daughter

Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.

The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.

Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.

The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.

Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days.


Welcome Mesu

1.       Can you tell us about your new book, Isaiah’s Daughter?
Isaiah’s Daughter is a story of both tragedy and triumph. It tells of difficult days in Judah’s history under King Ahaz’s reign, when moral bankruptcy and child sacrifice led to a nation on the verge of destruction. A little girl named Ishma sees her parents brutally murdered and is led into captivity, but a series of events finds her miraculously delivered to the prophet Isaiah’s home to live—so it seems—as a servant in his household. The rest of the story follows this little girl from captive orphan to captivating queen, and I hope readers will feel the same wonder I felt as I watched the story unfold through my research.
 
2.      What drew you to research the history of the main character, Hephzibah?
I don’t remember the first time I discovered the prophet Isaiah had a daughter, but I was immediately intrigued. The Bible mentions his two sons (Isa. 7:3; 8:1) and calls his wife a prophetess (Isa. 8:3), but there’s no direct reference to a daughter—at least not specifically calling her a daughter. In Isaiah 62:4, Isaiah mentions the coming of a “vindicated” Jerusalem and calls the new and righteous city, Hephzibah. Imagine my surprise when I discovered rabbinic tradition teaches that King Hezekiah’s wife—Hephzibah—was Isaiah’s daughter! Connecting Hezekiah’s wife with Isaiah’s daughter opened all sorts of “what ifs” in my imagination.
 
3.      Your biblical fiction novels tend to use biblical and historical facts as a foundation. What is your process like for interweaving these facts with fictional details?
Research is my favorite part of the writing process. I get to dig into ancient texts and Bible commentaries. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, cultural commentaries and all sorts of archaeological data make this part of writing like a big treasure hunt. Weaving them all together is somewhat less glamorous than you might imagine. I open a blank Excel sheet and start filling in confirmed dates on the left side—column A. I then put important “Names” across the top (Row 1) and begin listing events in the appropriate cells corresponding with date and name as I find information in biblical and historical resources (making note of which resources used). I begin a second sheet in the same Excel document, labeled “Historical/Biblical/Fiction,” and again place all the dates in column A. This time, however, I put only three divisions across the top: Historical, Biblical, and Fictional. Then I fill in events from the first sheet under the proper category—never changing the truth of Scripture or facts of history—and begin to “connect the dots” by adding whatever fictional details in the third column will smooth out the story for a believable plot.
 
4.      What was the most fascinating information you discovered in your research for this book?
I think the prophet Isaiah walking around barefoot and naked for three years (Isa. 20) was pretty fascinating—and quite shocking! Perhaps even more fascinating was the idea that Isaiah may have thought Hezekiah was the suffering Messiah he spoke of in Isaiah 53. Christians see that chapter as a clear description of Jesus Christ, but some of my research made a strong case that Isaiah might have thought Hezekiah “took up [Jerusalem’s] pain and bore [their] suffering” with his near-death illness in Isaiah 38. This book really made me think about how prophets might have viewed their own words in their current circumstances.
 
5.      Which character do you most identify with from any of your books? Why?
That’s easy. I’m Gomer from Love in a Broken Vessel. Though I wasn’t an actual prostitute, and my husband isn’t the prophet Hosea, I lived a pretty hard life before that good man followed God’s call and loved me in spite of my brokenness. He showed me what unconditional love really meant and introduced me to a personal relationship with Jesus. Then he married me six months later. J
 
Historical fans you are in for a real treat with this one. I was very surprised how much that I enjoyed this one.

Give this 4 star read a try. I recommend it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Be sure to stop by the other blogs and see what they have to say about  Isaiah's Daughter.  www.wmbooks.com/IsaiahsDaughterTour 

The View From Rainshadow Bay By Colleen Coble

After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing incident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has.
When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she’s in danger too. But where can she turn? Zach Bannister was her husband’s best friend and is the person she blames for his death. She’s barely spoken to him since. But right now he seems her only hope for protecting her son.
Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack’s death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna’s childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden.
In The View from Rainshadow Bay, suspense, danger, and a longing to love again ignite amid the gorgeous lavender fields of Washington State.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/View-Rainshadow-Lavender-Tides-Novel/dp/0718085760/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

My Thoughts...

Well this was the best book by Coble I have read in a long time. I read it in one sitting and I had to keep reading to find out who, what and where. It was just so good, I did not see it coming good.
You are going to love the suspense, the romance and the God breathed story.
This is book one in The Lavender Tides series, I can not wait for book two.
This is a four star book. I recommend it. Don't miss it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

The Pillow Parade By Edward Dron

For generations, sheep have had a proud history of jumping over fences to help children sleep. But when a little bunny tries to join this bedtime ritual, will the sheep be ready to welcome her into their group? Join Olive on her adventure, as she sets out to change bedtime as we know it and, along the way, discovers the joy that comes from helping others and the importance of not giving up.

The Pillow Parade is a funny and lighthearted rhyming book that you will enjoy reading to your kids over and over again. In a playful and subtle manner, the story shows children the importance of not giving up when they are confronted with a difficult situation or a flock of veeeeeeery stubborn, and not-so-nice, sheep.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Pillow-Parade-Childrens-Bedtime-Book/dp/1775161803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515712266&sr=8-1&keywords=the+pillow+parade

As a child of the 80s, Ed Dron grew up on a healthy diet of ThunderCats, Alf, and Atari games (which he still owns). In the 90s he was drawn to the comedy stylings of Monty Python and a Canadian show called Kids in the Hall. These heavy doses of pop culture helped feed his imagination and shape his writing style.

These days, Ed enjoys writing fun little stories that capture a child’s short attention span. He loves the challenge of condensing a story into as few words as possible, without losing its charm or narrative.

Ed believes that, first and foremost, a children’s book needs to be fun. It should not only nurture their curiosity but also spark a lifelong love of books and reading.

He now lives with his wife and two children in British Columbia, Canada.     

My Thoughts...

 This was such a cute book. I loved all the rhyming. It made it such a fun read.
I think any little one would love this book at bedtime.
The illustrations were very well done.
I recommend this book for those with little ones.  It is sure to be a hit in your house. It will soon become a favorite I'm sure.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Beneath the Summer Sun By Kelly Irvin

 Jennie Troyer knows it’s time to remarry. Can she overcome a painful secret and open her heart to love?
 It’s been four years since Jennie’s husband died in a farming accident. Long enough that the elders in her Amish community think it’s time to marry again for the sake of her seven children. What they don’t know is that grief isn’t holding her back from a new relationship. Fear is. A terrible secret in her past keeps her from moving forward.
Mennonite book salesman Nathan Walker stops by Jennie’s farm whenever he’s in the area. Despite years of conversation and dinners together, she never seems to relax around him. He knows he should move on, but something about her keeps drawing him back.
 Meanwhile, Leo Graber nurtures a decades-long love for Jennie, but guilt plagues him—guilt for letting Jennie marry someone else and guilt for his father’s death on a hunting trip many years ago. How could anyone love him again—and how could he ever take a chance to love in return?
In this second book in the Every Amish Season series, three hearts try to discern God’s plan for the future—and find peace beneath the summer sun.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Summer-Every-Amish-Season/dp/0310348080/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1515516497&sr=8-4&keywords=kelly+Irvin

New from Kelly Irvin! Upon a Spring Breeze, the first book in her Amish romance series, Every Amish Season, from Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian Publishing. The novel is the first in a four-book series that delves into the lives of four Amish women linked by life altering experiences that bring them together as wives, mothers, and grandmothers in the small town of Jamesport, Mo. Kelly Irvin is also the author of The Amish of Bee County series, which includes the critically acclaimed The Beekeeper's Son. Publishers Weekly called the first book in the series a beautifully woven masterpiece and Romantic Times Magazine called Kelly a storyteller extraordinaire. It was followed by The Bishop's Son and The Saddle Maker's Son, which is an ECPA bestseller.

Kelly is also author of several novellas, The Christmas Visitor, included in the Thomas Nelson anthology, The Amish Christmas Gift, and Sweeter than Honey, included in An Amish Market anthology.

She also penned the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both published by Harvest House Publishers. Love Still Stands, the first book in the New Hope series, debuted in September 2014, and the follow-up, Love Redeemed, released March 1, 2014. The final book in the series, set in Branson, MO., was A Plain Love Song, released in July 2014.

The Bliss Creek Amish series, set in Kansas, includes To Love and to Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love's Journey Home.

In the New Hope series, familiar characters from Bliss Creek move to Missouri to start a new district and a new life.

Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, set in San Antonio, Texas.

The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the ACFW San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly wrote nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing. She has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association for articles pertaining to mental health and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women.

Kelly retired in 2016 from her position of 22 years as public relations manager for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties included writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson.

Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for almost twenty-nine years, and they have two young adult children and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and visit the babies.


For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com     

My Thoughts...

I really enjoyed book number two of An Every Amish Season series.
I  liked Jeannie, Nathan, and Leo's story. I could not wait to see what Gods plan for Jeannie's life was.
A widow with a house full of kids, she needed a helpmate but which one was the one for her?
You are going to love the out come of this one.
Again Kelly does not disappoint, I gladly gave this book 4 stars and I recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Sacred Rest By Saundra Dalton-Smith

Staying busy is easy. Staying well rested-now there's a challenge.

How can you keep your energy, happiness, creativity, and relationships fresh and thriving in the midst of never-ending family demands, career pressures, and the stress of everyday life? In SACRED REST, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-certified internal medicine doctor, reveals why rest can no longer remain optional.

Dr. Dalton-Smith shares seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research-physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, creative-and why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. SACRED REST combines the science of rest, the spirituality of rest, the gifts of rest, and the resulting fruit of rest. It shows rest as something sacred, valuable, and worthy of our respect.

By combining scientific research with personal stories, spiritual insight, and practical next steps, SACRED REST gives the weary permission to embrace rest, set boundaries, and seek sanctuary without any guilt, shame, or fear.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Rest-Recover-Energy-Restore/dp/1478921676/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515276052&sr=8-1&keywords=sacred+rest+saundra+dalton-smith

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board Certified internal medicine physician. She shares with audiences nationwide on the topics of eliminating limiting emotions, correcting work-rest imbalances, and experiencing personal renewal. Dr. Dalton-Smith is a national and international media resource on the mind, body, spirit connection and has been featured in Women's Day, Redbook, First For Women magazine, Focus on the Family, and many other publications. She is the founder of I Choose My Best Life. Her other books include award-winning Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves and Come Empty: Pour Out Life's Hurts and Receive God's Healing Love.

My Thoughts...

Some really good insights and  tips and thoughts. I found this book easy to read and easy to understand.
It's a book that is more a reminder of what is important and what comes first.
We all need to try to rest, but it is so hard. This is a great reminder of that.
I gave this book 4 stars. Give it a try when you are overwhelmed and need to slow down and rest.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

No One Ever Asked By Katie Ganshert Win it before you can buy it!

Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district--and in their lives.When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray--the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser--faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones--the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge's top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she's stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as "this" or "that", when such complexity exists in each person?

Pre-order your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/No-One-Ever-Asked-Novel/dp/1601429045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515115983&sr=8-1&keywords=no+one+ever+asked+katie+ganshert

Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the exciting state of Iowa, where she currently resides with her family. She likes to write things and consume large quantities of coffee and chocolate while she writes all the things. She's won some awards. For the writing, not the consuming. Although the latter would be fun. You can learn more about Katie and these things she writes at her website www.katieganshert.com.

My Thoughts...

Raw, honest, and deep, are just a few words to describe this book. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this book.
Ganshert was not afraid to write about a topic we all want someone to stand up and shout to the world about.
I devoured this book and was left wanting more. This is Ganshert's best book and it is one you will not want to miss out on.
I gave this one 5 stars two times and I HIGHLY recommend you preorder your copy!
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

People Are Good By Anna Marie McHargue

In today’s world, it is easy to focus on what is going wrong instead of what is good and going right. Small acts of kindness are really the big things that change our outlook and ultimately change the way we live in the world. People Are Good is a collection of stories that unites us all. This global movement is sure to restore your faith in the human spirit and remind us that little things are a big deal.

Why People Are Good has such impact:

• Demonstrates the POWER OF HUMAN EMPATHY and the wonderful impact it can have on others.

• Emphasizes the idea that in spite of vast differences, as human beings, we all appreciate the SMALLEST ACTS OF KINDNESS.

• Creates an understanding that small moments in people’s lives CHANGE THE COURSE of their existence.

The news media and blogosphere flourish with examples of the human capacity for power and poverty, life and death, success and sadness. The mission of People Are Good is to inspire each of us to want to take small moments in life to act, rather than react. It’s more than random acts of kindness but a lifestyle of noticing others, sharing a smile and ultimately changing someone’s worldview for the rest of their life.

Get yours FREE here on Kindle Unlimited....
https://www.amazon.com/People-Are-Good-Stories-Humanity-ebook/dp/B077D23WY9/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1514946852&sr=8-1

AnnaMarie McHargue’s passion for beautiful words is something she loves to share with the reading public. She and her sister, Anita Stephens, co-founded their company, Words with Sisters, with the mission of partnering with authors who wish to offer positive messages and inspiration through their work. For Anna and Anita, their grandfather is the embodiment of spreading good while touching the lives of people every day. Wanting to capture this incredible passion for people and life, the sisters compiled stories for People Are Good with the hope of spreading the warmth and joy their grandfather offered so freely throughout his life.

My Thoughts...

What would it take to make a small change in the world we live in? How about less negativity, more positive, happy people, doing nice things for others.
This compilation of stories of people doing good is much needed in our world.
This is a self published book but it has been edited very well and the writing is very good.
If you need a little pick me up, grab a copy of this on Kindle Unlimited for free right now. Tell your friends about it as well.
The Mary Reader received this book from the Wynn Wynn Media for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Under a Cloudless Sky By Chris Fabry Win it before you can buy it!

A charming and engrossing novel for fans of Southern fiction and the recent hit memoir Hillbilly Elegy about a lush and storied coal-mining town―and the good people who live there―in danger of being destroyed for the sake of profit. Will the truth about the town’s past be its final undoing or its saving grace?

1933. In the mining town of Beulah Mountain, West Virginia, two young girls form an unbreakable bond against the lush Appalachian landscape, coal dust and old hymns filling their lungs and hearts. Despite the polarizing forces of their fathers―one a mine owner, one a disgruntled miner ―Ruby and Bean thrive under the tender care of Bean’s mama, blissfully unaware of the rising conflict in town and the coming tragedy that will tear them apart forever.

2004. Hollis Beasley is taking his last stand. Neighbors up and down the hollow have sold their land to Coleman Coal and Energy, but Hollis is determined to hold on to his family legacy on Beulah Mountain. Standing in his way is Buddy Coleman, an upstart mining executive who hopes to revitalize the dying town by increasing coal production and opening the Company Store Museum. He’ll pay homage to the past―even the massacre of 1933―while positioning the company for growth at all costs.

What surprises them all is how their stories will intersect with a feisty octogenarian living hundreds of miles away. When Ruby Handley Freeman’s grown children threaten her independence, she takes a stand of her own and disappears, propelling her on a journey to face a decades-old secret that will change everything for her and those she meets.

You must pick up a copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Cloudless-Sky-Chris-Fabry/dp/1414387784/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514598277&sr=8-1&keywords=under+a+cloudless+sky

I was born in West Virginia in 1961. I read a lot, but not very fast, and wrote poems and songs, and transcribed Marx Brothers movies and memorized dialogue.

In 1984 I met Jerry Jenkins at Moody Bible Institute. He offered to help me learn to write and I took him up on the offer. In 1998, Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye hired me to help write the Left Behind: The Kids series. After that I worked on several other series for children and then published my first adult novel in 2008. It took more than six years to write Dogwood and find a publisher. It received a 2009 Christy Award.

My next novel, June Bug, drew its themes from the classic Victor Hugo tale, Les Miserables. Then, Almost Heaven released and also won a Christy Award, as well as the 2011 Christian Book Award for Fiction.

Not in the Heart is another riveting, suspenseful, and yet relational story. A mystery within a mystery within an addiction. I dedicate it to all who have someone in their life who is addicted. This story also received a Christy award.

Borders of the Heart is my nod toward some of the great western writers—Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry. It's a love story, a painful story of loss, a mystery, and an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I hope you enjoy the ride through Tucson and the surrounding area as much as I did.

Every Waking Moment is my effort to take some of the pain and loss of life and sift it through the life of a young woman who's been marginalized in society, working among people who are marginalized (the elderly). Treha has an extraordinary gift that few observe because she's "different." Like most of my tales, it's a love story, a mystery, part thriller—but mostly a character sketch of lonely people looking for hope.

The Promise of Jesse Woods is a coming-of-age novel that will wring your heart. Part of the allure of the story is baseball, as Matt suffers twin disasters in 1972 and 1984. I'm pleased the novel was given an Award of Merit in the 2017 Christianity Today Book Awards. It's particularly poignant given the fact that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016!

I've also had the opportunity to craft novels based on film screenplays. The motion picture The Song released in September 2014, with my novel developed from Richard L. Ramsey's screenplay following later that year. I was also privileged to work on the novelization of War Room, the latest film produced by the Kendrick brothers (Courageous, Fireproof). Both film and novel were released in August 2015.

I graduated from the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. I have been married to Andrea since 1982. We have nine children. In October of 2008 our family evacuated our house in Colorado, leaving behind all our belongings because of a toxic mold situation. Since then we have been living near Tucson, Arizona, working on recovering our health after the mold exposure.

Stop by my website at www.chrisfabry.com to learn more about my writing and radio endeavors, and be sure to sign up for my online newsletter, the FABRYGRAM. I can also be found on Facebook and Twitter, or you can email me at chris@chrisfabry.com.

My Thoughts...

You're in for a treat with this book. Fabulous, fantastic, you won't put it down. 
You have to read Bean and Ruby's story. Their  stories intersect very well.
Some of you will not see the end coming. You will be blown away with the ending!
Not only does this need to be a movie, so much of it rings true to the coal mining area I lived in for many years. This has to be one of the very best researched books. The details are so vivid and it reads like no fiction book I have read in the past.
If you read Hillbilly  Elegy and enjoyed it, you are going to LOVE Under a Cloudless Sky it's so much better.
This is a 5 star 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.